The digital landscape is continuously evolving, and with this evolution, the way we work and collaborate is also changing. Microsoft's Teams, an online meetings and collaboration application, is at the forefront of this transformation. Recently, Microsoft announced the release of its new Teams application for Windows and Mac desktop platforms.

The updated Teams application has been completely redesigned from scratch, promising a major overhaul. Microsoft has emphasized that the new Teams app now includes an array of advanced features that the previous version didn't have. These include custom line-of-business apps, third-party apps, breakout rooms, 7x7 video, call queues, PSTN calling, and contextual search in chats and channels. This ensures that the application has full feature parity for almost all features, including cross-broadcasting channel conversations and more.

The tech giant has highlighted that they have focused on delivering high-quality performance and improving the foundations in areas such as reliability, security, and IT management. This is to ensure that the new Teams application meets the evolving needs of organizations worldwide. Moreover, the new application is reported to launch twice as fast as the old application, and users can enter meetings twice as quickly. This, coupled with the fact that the app is expected to use less memory and disk space, certainly adds to its appeal.

The new Teams app also features a simplified user interface that offers more customization options. This is a valuable asset, especially considering the diverse needs of modern organizations. Another remarkable feature of the new Teams app is its compatibility with the Copilot productive AI assistant. Copilot in Teams chat can help speed up conversations by quickly reviewing main points, action items, and decisions without having to scroll through long threads. It can also summarize key discussion points in meetings, including who said what and where people agree or disagree, and suggest action items in real-time during the meeting.

Users can easily switch from the classic Teams app to the new Teams app by clicking the toggle button in the upper left corner of the app. According to Microsoft, the Classic Teams application will automatically be updated to the new Teams version in the coming months. The release of the new Teams app for Windows and Mac is a significant step in Microsoft's commitment to foster digital collaboration, and it is expected to positively impact productivity in workplaces around the world.