A Concept for Integrating the Skype for Business & Microsoft Teams User Experience

NOTE: Although Microsoft has deeper integration between Skype for Business  & Microsoft Teams under review, I want to be very clear, this blog post is some of my own ideas, NOT Microsoft’s, on one possibility of bringing the Microsoft Teams experience and Skype for Business together.

Microsoft Teams has noted “integration between Skype for Business and Teams”, suggested by Josh Blalock on UserVoice, “Is Under Review”. Since Microsoft has announced this on all their Twitter accounts (Skype for Business, Microsoft Teams and Office 365) it MUST be under review. (Go to UserVoice to vote!) This blog is my own quick thoughts on one way the Microsoft Teams user interface could be a bit made more cohesive with the Skype for Business user interface.

The first thing to take into consideration is that Microsoft Teams is, in many, but not all, very analogous to Skype for Business Persistent Chat (click here). In that way, a good way to integration is to use the visual elements currently being used for Persistent Chat in the service of Microsoft Teams.

Main Window Concept

If there is a new notification from a Microsoft Teams, it shows on the main Skype for Business window as shown below.

Teams List Concept

Click on Teams main tab and Team sub tab shows Microsoft Teams.

Click on a Team to join the ongoing conversation.

Reply or Start a new conversation. Clicking on audio or video starts a real-time call using  the Teams.

If a user has the rights they can add another member to the team (upper right).

NOTE: As an alternative, clicking on the Team list could deep link to open the Microsoft Team in the Microsoft Teams app.

Activity / Feed List Concept

This would essentially display, in the Skype for Business user interface version of the Microsoft Teams Activity list.

Conversation Window

The conversation window could be a Skype4B-esque pop out window, or it could just pop out the Microsoft Teams (app or web) context of the Team or Conversation that was clicked above.

Search

When you are on the Teams “tab”, searching works very similar to Microsoft Teams app.

click on Filter to further refine or restrict the search. (below)

Configuration

A server level  PowerShell command could switch between Persistent Chat and Microsoft Teams. This would of course be dependent on if this user is a Teams user as well.

Since the Microsoft Teams app is essentially a web app (click here) behind the scenes, this all should be technically possible. It may require additional Skype for Business styling.

Summary

This is just a concept how the Microsoft Teams functionality could be, at a high level, brought together in a somewhat cohesive way with Skype for Business. I’m sure there is a lot more to flesh out and I welcome comment.

Microsoft Teams Tip #11: Chat Audio Call Control

Microsoft Teams can do audio calling and the latest version has brought some call controls like Hold and Transfer. We’ll take a quick look at how this new functionality works.

When you are in a Chat (one to one call) you have an audio call button. (in Team chats there is a video call button instead)

Another difference in Chat is that you have the call control functionality like hold and transfer.

You can put the call on hold. I don’t see a way to select what music on hold the remote party hears.

You can also transfer a call.

Next you search a contact and click Transfer.

One thing I noticed is that the call is place on hold as soon as you get into the “Transfer the call” window. So if you cancel a transfer you will need to pick the call of hold to talk to the user.

When the current call doesn’t have the focus (lets say you want to respond or check something in a Team) it is “minimized” into the upper right corner of the Microsoft Teams window. You can still talk on the call or control it (like put it on hold).

What happens if you try to start a second audio call? Interestingly Microsoft Teams will “remove you from the existing one”. <Grin>, like that soft way of saying it. So it sounds like one call at a time, for now at least.

While you are on a call you can change the audio devices.

After the call you get a survey of the call quality.

It’s interesting to see more call control coming into Microsoft Teams and make the overlap between Skype for Business and Teams grow.

If you would like to see more Microsoft Teams User Tips & Tricks:
http://windowspbx.blogspot.com/search/label/MicrosoftTeamsUserTip