Microsoft Teams was launched in 2017 to provide a unique digital hub for team management in Office and Microsoft 365, and it’s already booming in the ever-crowded market of group messaging apps. But the Microsoft Teams mobile app has taken things a step further to organize all of your team conversations, tasks, content, and apps in a single shared workspace that you can take with you on the go.
This means that when events like the 2020 COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak forces your employees to be away form the office, you can be certain they will stay connected with each other.
Let’s go through a quick overview of the Microsoft Teams mobile app.
What Is Microsoft Teams?
Microsoft Teams was designed to solve many of the problems that businesses face with managing shared work and communications. Simply put, Teams is a digital hub for teamwork—a single workplace where you can chat, share files, hold meetings, and work in real time via business apps. Using this powerful tool, you can build teams of 10 or 10,000 and perform a multitude of functions—like host audio and video web conferences with anyone inside or outside your organization. It can also be used to conduct online meetings and group chat.
Overview: Microsoft Teams Mobile App
Originally only released for desktop, Microsoft Teams is now also available on iOS and Android mobile devices; you can download it from the App Store or Google Play. (The app was previously also available for Windows Phones, but this was discontinued in July 2018.)
Using the Microsoft Teams mobile app, you can access all your team contacts, content, conversations, apps and meetings right from your mobile device, anywhere and anytime. To use the app continuously, you need a paid Office 365 or Microsoft 365 commercial subscription; however, you can sign up for a free trial subscription.
Microsoft Teams Mobile System Requirements
Here are the supported mobile platforms for the Microsoft Teams app:
- iOS operating system version 10.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.
- Android operating system version 4.4 or later.
Microsoft Teams Key Features
Carry your work wherever you go. Microsoft Teams brings these essential features to your on-the-go experience:
- Develop effective communication by getting the entire team on the same page with online meetings, audio/video calling, group chat, and web conferencing.
- Stay on top of your business by customizing your digital workspace with Microsoft apps and third-party services.
- Make reliable and clear audio or video calls by integrating Teams with your phone system, direct routing, or calling plan.
- Work together better. Seamlessly collaborate or manage your team’s projects using Office 365 tools such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and SharePoint.
- Build dedicated channels to communicate with your entire team on a single shared workspace, or chat privately or in specific groups.
- Keep your team secure with end-to-end administrative control, security, and compliance from Office 365.
- Quickly find your team conversations and chats with a simple search interface.
- Save business-critical conversations or customize notifications as needed.
Microsoft Teams App on Android: Latest Updates
Microsoft Teams was updated in December 2018 for Android users. This update brought the following improvements:
- Team members can seamlessly schedule channel meetings right from the mobile app.
- Users now need a team code to join a team.
- The search tool now lets users search for files across all channels.
Microsoft is also planning to make Teams the default app for scheduling meetings in Office and Microsoft 365.
Microsoft Teams Mobile App vs. Desktop Version
Now that Teams is available on mobile and desktop, you may be wondering which option is right for you. Here’s a quick look at the main differences:
| Microsoft Teams Desktop | Microsoft Teams Mobile App | |
| Features | All features present | Everything except desktop sharking |
| Convenience | Limited to your desktop device | Accessible from any iOS or Android mobile device for on-the-go-convenience. |
| System Requirements | Minimum 1.6 GHz processor, 32-bit or 64-bit; 2.0 GB RAM; 3.0 GB hard disk spaceMinimum 128 MB graphics memory;OS: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8 or Windows 7 Service Pack;1024×768 screen resolution;Requires .NET 4.5 CLR or later; USB 2.0 video camera(Check here for additional requirements) |
Few—just iOS 10.0 or later or Android 4.4 or later |
For business use, the Microsoft Teams desktop version work well if you have regular access to your computer. But when you’re traveling, you can hop right on your mobile app and stay in touch with your team.
Conclusion
The Microsoft Teams mobile app is a great way to build a digital, on-the-go workplace where team members can communicate, collaborate, meet, share and do much more right from their mobile devices. For more information, be sure to check out Microsoft’s support article.