Few days ago, we reported that Zoom will be allowing unlimited videoconferencing on its platform for free users on Thanksgiving day.
It seem Microsoft is not losing its guard. The tech giant is making a big push to entice fans of Zoom over to Microsoft Teams with the new all-day video calling option that can be used for free.
Earlier this year, the US-based software giant launched Microsoft Teams for consumers on mobile, it’s now bringing Teams’ friends and family features to the desktop and web, allowing you to create a Microsoft Teams meeting for up to 300 friends and family that can run all day free of charge.
This means you will not need a Microsoft Account, or the Microsoft Teams app to join calls. You can now join free via a web browser.
The platform will support up to 49 friends or family members in a gallery view, or through the Together Mode feature, which puts you side by side in a virtual environment.
With the approach of Thanksgiving, which is just about a week away, it is clear that Microsoft is positioning Teams as a way for families to connect virtually during the pandemic.
This is even more important as the CDC (Centre For Disease Control) has recommend that people should not travel for Thanksgiving.
As much as it seems like Teams might be a little late to the party, with such move as a massive 24-hour limit on meeting length, and an easy-to-use web app, it suddenly looks like Microsoft is offering a great way of connecting with friends and family – free of charge.
Aside Microsoft Teams and Zoom removing the restriction on the limit of Videoconferencing, other companies that offers similar services like Google Meet (60-minute limit) and Cisco Webex (50-minute limit) also have similar restrictions.
To start using Microsoft Team, and host participants, you need to do the following:
- Visit Microsoft’s new Teams web link and sign in with a Microsoft Account.
- Once you’ve created a video meeting, you can simply share the link with friends and family, and they’ll be able to join via the web – for free; without needing a Microsoft Account.