14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has already announced a long time ago that it wanted to bring a walkie talkie feature to Microsoft Teams, and now it seems like it’s finally happening.
As discovered recently, Microsoft is now working on updating Microsoft Teams for iOS with walkie talkie support, with the feature to go live as soon as June.
As you could easily figure out, this new feature has a very simple purpose: to allow Microsoft Teams users to chat with each other instantly just like they’d do it with a walkie talkie.
The feature will work on both iPhones and iPads, and Microsoft says it’ll overall reduce the costs for IT because employees can simply give up on traditional walkie talkies.
Update going live in June
Originally announced in January 2020, the update was released in private preview builds last year, according to Microsoft itself.
“This new push-to-talk experience enables clear, instant, and secure voice communication over the cloud, turning employee- or company-owned smartphones and tablets into a walkie-talkie. The functionality, built natively into Teams, reduces the number of devices employees must carry, and lowers costs for IT,” Microsoft said.
“Unlike analog devices with unsecure networks, customers no longer have to worry about crosstalk or eavesdropping from outsiders. And since Walkie Talkie works over Wi-Fi or cellular data, it can be used across geographic locations. The capability will be available in the Teams mobile app and integrate with the newly unveiled Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro, a device built for workers on the front lines of any industry. Walkie Talkie will be available in private preview in Teams in the first half of this year.”
The update aimed at iOS devices is therefore expected in just a few months, so expect more information to be shared in the coming weeks.