Zoom stole the headlines, but 2022 was the year of Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams iOS and Surface Source: Windows Primal

2020 was the yr Zoom became a verb. It was the year virtual meetings became the norm, and virtual classrooms were the get-to method of teaching. While Zoom stole the headlines and became the app of choice for many people when it comes to video conferencing, Microsoft Teams took off in 2022.

In just about any style that you measure information technology, Microsoft Teams had a monstrous year. Its characteristic list grew, its usage rates skyrocketed, and information technology gained a sense of normalcy in the eyes of the public. That growth came every bit a consequence of an unprecedented pandemic and Microsoft investing fourth dimension, money, and effort to run across an nearly unreal demand for video conferencing.

More features

Microsoft Teams Breakout Rooms Lede Source: Windows Key

While Teams has been around since 2022, information technology didn't take off until this year. That's true in both feature fix and usage rate. At the start of 2022, filigree view in Teams calls could only show four people at one time. You can now prove upward to 49 people in Teams meetings at in one case. Microsoft as well increased the maximum participant count for meetings upward to 300, and rolled out new features like Together Fashion and Gallery view.

Breakout rooms will make a training session more than interactive ... I retrieve they'll transform how I teach."

Every calendar month Microsoft shares a summary of all of the new features that rolled out in the previous month, and every month that list includes a meaningful gear up of changes and improvements. Equally a news writer who has covered quite a few app updates in my solar day, it's clear that these aren't simply problems fixes and bog-standard updates to keep an app secure. Microsoft is conspicuously investing in Teams equally a service.

Teams hasn't always been the starting time video conferencing app to get new features, but Microsoft has worked hard to make the platform noticeably better, and that investment is paying off.

Breakout rooms are a relatively new feature to Teams but are a great example of Microsoft improving the platform. Once more, Teams wasn't the first app to have breakout rooms, just adding them makes the it much more than useable.

My sister-in-law, Lyd Freeman, is a teacher and uses Teams for work. Lyd followed the rollout of breakout rooms closely since information technology could make a substantial difference in online learning. When it finally rolled out, Lyd jumped on it right away and her office tested it out during a holiday party. Lyd says that "Breakout rooms will brand a grooming session more interactive, replacing that awkward silence of everyone only watching you talk in a meeting. I retrieve they'll transform how I teach."

Users on the rise

Microsoft Teams Android Source: Windows Central

Teams' biggest area of growth is in terms of users. The service gained nearly 100 million daily active users year over year and became a mainstay of corporate advice and online learning.

In November 2022, the daily active user count of Teams was 20 million, a figure that seems paltry now. By March 2022, that number was upward to 44 million. March was the commencement month of major lockdowns in many regions, and from March to Apr the daily agile user count jumped from 44 one thousand thousand to 75 1000000. Microsoft last shared Teams usage figures in October when information technology stated that Teams hit 115 one thousand thousand daily active users.

It's easy to write off Teams gaining more users as a byproduct of everyone having to utilize video conferencing tools, merely there are plenty of tools to choose from, and people chose Teams. That's for a variety of reasons, including the fact that information technology'southward bundled with Microsoft 365, but the bottom line is that people are using Teams.

Being recognized

Caesars Microsoft Teams Source: Windows Central

This last indicate is anecdotal, but in my feel, Microsoft Teams became normal in 2022. Back in May, I wrote well-nigh how Microsoft Teams changed my football game team during the pandemic. My football squad has continued to apply Teams since then, and it's become even more of import as the U.k. goes in and out of lockdown.

Having a consequent platform through which to teach and communicate has been an incredible resource, and I've noticed that people are ameliorate at jumping into our Teams system than earlier. While many people had heard of Teams when nosotros swapped to it at the beginning of the year, it feels more normal now. I get a lot of letters from prospective players, and later it's clear they want to join the team, I inquire for their email then I can add them to Teams. Well-nigh without neglect, there are no follow up questions. In virtually all cases, they've heard of it, used information technology, and know how to fix it up.

Only the beginning

Microsoft Teams Pc Source: Windows Primal

While Teams skyrocketed in 2022, I don't think that its growth is an anomaly. While we might accept a return to in-person work and education, the toothpaste is out of the tube, and virtual communication is hither to stay. I expect Microsoft to roll out new features for Teams in 2022 and beyond and for its user base of operations to grow.

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams allows you to collaborate with colleagues, upload files, transport letters, and chat through video. Information technology integrates with Function 365 and several other cloud services.

We may earn a committee for purchases using our links. Learn more.

The Dell XPS 15 is our choice for best 15-inch laptop

Buyer's guide

The Dell XPS fifteen is our choice for best xv-inch laptop

For a lot of people, a 15-inch laptop is a perfect size that offers plenty screen for multitasking, and in a lot of cases, some actress functioning from powerful hardware. Nosotros've rounded upwardly the best of the best at this size.