Introducing Microsoft Teams Essentials

Rhea-AI Summary

Microsoft Corp. has launched Teams Essentials, the first dedicated offering for small businesses, priced at $4 USD per user per month. Designed for hybrid work environments, it includes features like unlimited group meetings for up to 30 hours, 300 person capacity, and 10 GB of cloud storage. Easy invitations and integrations with Outlook and Google Calendar enhance scheduling. The service aims to support small businesses' growth by providing affordable collaboration tools.

Positive

• Launch of Teams Essentials targets small businesses, addressing their unique needs.
• Competitive pricing at $4 per user per month makes it accessible.
• Features include unlimited meetings, large capacity, and cloud storage.
• Integrations with Outlook and Google Calendar simplify scheduling.

Negative

• None.

REDMOND, Wash., Dec. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On Wednesday, Microsoft Corp. announced the general availability of Teams Essentials, the first-ever standalone Microsoft Teams offering, designed specifically for small businesses. Teams Essentials gives small businesses a professional and affordable meetings solution to support collaboration, connection and productivity in a hybrid work environment. At $4 USD per person, per month, Teams Essentials is the most competitively priced online meetings and collaboration solution in the market.

"We know how difficult the past 20 months have been for small businesses. They've had to demonstrate extreme flexibility to adapt, often with limited access to tools and technology," said Jared Spataro, corporate vice president of Modern Work at Microsoft. "Teams Essentials is built specifically to meet the unique needs of small businesses, enabling them to thrive in this new era of work."

Teams Essentials provides expansive limits and features for hosting professional meetings and collaborating in one place:

• Unlimited group meetings for up to 30 hours
• Meetings with up to 300 people
• 10 GB of cloud storage per user

Teams Essentials also includes existing and new capabilities available in the free version of Teams to meet the needs of small businesses:

• Simple, easy invitations require only an email address. Users are not required to sign up, sign in or install Teams to participate in a meeting.
• In addition to Outlook Calendar integration, new Google Calendar integration makes it easy to schedule meetings in Microsoft Teams. *Coming soon
• Professional meeting tools and capabilities like meeting lobby, virtual backgrounds, Together mode, live closed captions and live reactions.
• Never lose context or continuity with always-available chats in Microsoft Teams.
• Quickly start a group project and host meetings with anyone, assign tasks to teammates, and create polls to receive feedback quickly all in one hub with the new small-business group chat template. *Coming soon to desktop and web

According to LinkedIn data, SMB open job postings are up 81.9% year over year compared to Nov. 1, 2020. More than ever, small businesses need the flexibility to hire from anywhere and technology that opens the door to new employee workstyles, such as synchronous and asynchronous collaboration. Teams Essentials offers small businesses an affordable way to work, collaborate and grow. Customers can buy Teams Essentials directly through the Teams website or from a variety of Microsoft Cloud Partners to suit their needs.

Visit the Microsoft 365 Blog to learn more about Microsoft Teams Essentials.

Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT" @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

 

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SOURCE Microsoft Corp.

FAQ

What is Microsoft Teams Essentials and its purpose for small businesses?

Teams Essentials is a dedicated Microsoft Teams offering for small businesses, providing an affordable solution for collaboration and meetings.

How much does Teams Essentials cost per user?

Teams Essentials is priced at $4 USD per user, per month.

What are some features of Microsoft Teams Essentials?

Features include unlimited group meetings for 30 hours, up to 300 participants, and 10 GB of cloud storage.

When was Microsoft Teams Essentials launched?

Microsoft Teams Essentials was announced on December 1, 2021.

What capacity do meetings have in Teams Essentials?

Meetings can accommodate up to 300 people in Teams Essentials.