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Microsoft Teams

Quicklink(s)

Microsoft Teams is a collaboration platform that provides chat, video conferencing, file sharing, and integration with other Microsoft 365 applications, designed to enable teamwork and communication within our organization.

New Microsoft Team Phone Service

OIT has started a multi-year, phased project to leverage cloud based telephone services including MS Teams Telephone Services and AWS Connect.

Learn more about the Mitel PBX Phone System Retirement Project

Teams Client Software Upgrade

Microsoft is transitioning to a new Microsoft Teams client software version. New Teams is an upgraded and optimized version of the classic version of Teams.

Learn More about the new Teams software

  • February 29, 2024 – You will see a banner letting you switch to the new Teams software. It is encouraged to try the new version before it becomes the default.
  • March 14, 2024 – The new Teams software will become the default.
  • April 1, 2024 – Classic Teams software will be decommissioned and you will only be able to use the new Teams software.

Microsoft Teams is more than a chat tool.  Teams is part of the Microsoft 365 suite, so it coordinates seamlessly with your calendar and OneDrive. You can communicate one-on-one or with ad hoc groups (similar to a group text message).  Conversations are persistent and are saved on the server like your email, so you can start a conversation through the Teams desktop app and continue the conversation through the mobile app on your phone.  You can also use Teams through a web browser.

Teams can show who among your co-workers is currently available to chat or collaborate. You can even create ‘channels’ for certain members of your department, and ‘chat groups’ for people in and out of your department.

Key Features of Teams

  • Person-to-person communication
  • Team-based collaboration
  • Ad hoc groups
  • Integration with the Microsoft 365 Suite
  • Phone and video conferencing
  • Persistent conversations
  • Mobile apps
  • Teams Phone Service (coming soon)

How to get Teams

If you already have a Microsoft 365 (UCI Exchange) account, you can already access Teams from your web browser or by installing the desktop or mobile app. (If you have an OIT-managed Desktop, you may already have Teams installed.)

Don’t have a Microsoft 365 account? See, “How do I sign up for Microsoft 365 Education?”

AT A GLANCE

REQUIREMENTS

Microsoft 365 Account

COST

No additional cost

ELIGIBILITY

Faculty, Staff

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Updated on
March 5, 2024