New Feature by Microsoft Teams May Allow Phones to be Used as Walkie Talkie

Walkie-Talkie like features to be introduced by Microsoft

Wednesday, 14th July 2021

Last year the new push-to-talk Walkie Talkie feature that was introduced by US company Microsoft for Android devices, will now be available on Teams phones as well.

The feature is still in the development stage as per a listing in the Microsoft 365 roadmap and is expected to roll out on Teams phones in public preview later this year in September.

According to the new feature, Microsoft Teams phones will be equipped with the Walkie Talkie app that will be integrated directly into them. This phone will be dedicated to calling devices from third-party manufacturers and will be powered by Teams. It will work on both cellular and wireless connection, and can thus be used across geographical locations.

Users will be able to convert their desk phones in their workplaces into a Walkie Talkie device with the help of this update. An easy push-to-talk feature will enable them to do this.

The firm explained the feature in the Microsoft 365 roadmap where it has been termed, ‘Microsoft Teams: Walkie Talkie on Teams phone’, and said, “Like traditional walkie talkies, the Walkie Talkie app on your Teams phones provides an instant push-to-talk (PTT) communication for your team. It allows you to press and hold a button to speak to your team, and release the button to listen.”

Also Read: Xiaomi's Redmi Note 10T 5G Smartphone Launch Date in India Set For July 20.

This design of this particular functionality is directly aimed at employees or first-line workers according to the Redmond giant as it will give them the ability to engage in a simple, instant, and secure voice communication over the cloud.

First-line workers will be empowered by this feature and will be easily and quickly able to connect with their colleagues via Teams channels. Microsoft is also planning to launch the Walkie Talkie option on the iOS version of Teams sometime this month.

Earlier this year, the Walkie Talkie feature was mentioned in a blog post by Emma Williams, Corporate vice president of modern workplace verticals at Microsoft. She also said the feature will be built natively into Teams and will cut down costs for IT as employees will be required to carry around fewer devices.

The feature comes packed with security as users will not need to worry about crosstalk or eavesdropping.

The News Talkie Bureau

Source:

Gadgets now