Microsoft unveils unified Teams app • The Register

Microsoft has released a unified Teams app, removing the requirement to have one app for work or education and another for personal use.

The long-awaited new feature, which should have worked right out of the box, allows users to add or select a different account by clicking in the upper-right corner. It’s also possible to join meetings as a guest without signing in or selecting a preferred account when joining. A preview of the app was released to Windows Insiders earlier this year.

The app is available for Windows 11, Windows 10, and Mac. Unfortunately, Linux fans will have to stick to the web version for now.

Teams has traditionally been the tool that businesses have forced on users as part of a Microsoft 365 subscription, at least until Microsoft was forced to separate the collaboration software from its productivity suite. However, it hasn’t had the same success with consumers.

The situation is further complicated by the requirement for users to install multiple Teams apps – one for work and one for personal use – at a time when consumers already have a plethora of chat and collaboration apps at their disposal. In addition to Microsoft’s Teams and Skype, there are alternatives such as WhatsApp, Messenger, and more.

Microsoft wants consumers to embrace Teams, and Amit Fulay, the company’s vice president of product, wrote: “All users, including those on Windows 10 and Mac, can now connect and collaborate with anyone, anytime, for free, by signing in with a personal email address.”

A unified application will certainly make things simpler, but users may still have their preferences for how they do things outside the enterprise. ®