Microsoft has unveiled a new Teams layout for chats and channels to bolster collaboration and productivity.

Microsoft has redesigned the chat and channels experience, consolidating chats, teams, and channels into one unified space under Chat. This integration aims to streamline Teams users’ digital workspace, making accessing, triaging, and organising conversations easier.

Jeff Teper, President of Collaborative Apps and Platforms at Microsoft, wrote in an announcement blog:

We’re thrilled to announce the next step in our journey to shape the future of collaboration with the introduction of the new chat and channels experience. This new experience is designed to help you collaborate more efficiently and effectively. It’s simple by default, enabling everyone to stay on top of what matters, and it’s powerful on demand, allowing you to organize information and communicate your way.”

The new chat and channels layout will be available for public preview in November. The capability will be available for Teams’ desktop, mobile, iOS, and Android apps.

More Specifics On The New Layout

Upon launch, Microsoft promises users will benefit from a self-service, guided onboarding flow that helps them discover and configure the new experience to their preferences. For those who prefer to keep chat and channels separate, Microsoft says this option is available during onboarding or can be adjusted anytime without IT assistance.

Microsoft outlines that the new “@mentions” view ensures that messages directed at each user are accessible in one place, preventing important conversations from being overlooked.

Additionally, new filters allow users to focus on what’s important now, such as unread messages in chats or channels, while excluding muted conversations or meeting chats. Copilot meeting recap intends to allow users to rapidly catch up on meeting chats asynchronously at their convenience.

The new chat and channels experience in Teams aims to allow users to tailor their work environment to their specific needs. With custom sections, Microsoft says users can consolidate all relevant conversations on a project or topic into one place, whether in chats, channels, meetings, or even involve Teams bots or AI agents.

Moreover, the new “favourites” section is available for everyone by default. It brings together all of a user’s pinned chats and channels from the previous experience.

Users can customise Teams chat and channels to match their personal workflow and preferred information consumption style. With the new controls, Microsoft promises users the flexibility to view chat and channels separately, see message previews, or display all channels in a single list. This customisation allows users to create a digital workspace that bolsters their productivity and efficiency.

Microsoft also teases “threaded conversations” for further collaboration boosts. The vendor says it’s testing this feature with customers this quarter and expects broad availability in mid-2025.

Microsoft Teams Gets Outlook’s New Calendar App

Earlier this month, Microsoft announced it will introduce Outlook for Windows’ new Calendar application into Teams.

The new Teams calendar app introduces AI-powered productivity features to enhance scheduling and meeting management. Key improvements include more intuitive meeting creation, easier access to meeting artefacts, and an adaptive command bar tailored to each user’s needs. New “Meet Now” and “Join with ID” functions simplify quick meeting access, while integrated weather information offers additional planning convenience.

Additionally, Microsoft Places integration allows users to add work plans directly into the calendar, displaying work locations and colleague availabilities within the office.

The updated Teams calendar app will be generally available starting January 2025. However, users can opt into an early trial version via a toggle button, beginning in November—similar to the previous option to switch between Classic and New Outlook.



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