Back in March of this year, just as the extent of the Covid-19 pandemic was being realised, the world went into lockdown. All over the globe, people were being asked to stay at home as much as possible, which for many people, also meant working from home.
We all had to get used to the very sudden transition from commuting, conversations with colleagues and Pret a Manger lunches to working in tracksuit pants from our kitchen tables. For most people who were used to being in the office 9-5, getting into a productive work from home routine was a challenge.
Microsoft recognised the remote working trend and immediately took it upon themselves to make remote working that little bit easier. In order to give everyone access to Teams, Microsoft launched a six-month Office 365 E1 trial for businesses. Whilst this offer is no longer available for businesses, you can still sign up for a free trial of Teams, for use by both individuals and companies. It is worth noting that academic institutions and non-profit organisations can still claim a free trial of Office 365. If your business already has an Office 365 licence, then you probably already use Teams. But this way, Teams is accessible to everyone, which is especially notable in these difficult financial times.
The free version of Teams shares many of the paid version’s features including:
- Unlimited chatting.
- Online meetings and video calling.
- Screen sharing.
- Background blur.
- File sharing.
- Security and compliance.
- Real time collaboration with Office.
Should your business later wish to upgrade to the paid version of Teams, you will have access to the full range of features, including:
- Additional storage, with plans starting at 1TB per user.
- Rich file collaboration in the Office desktop apps.
- Additional first- and third-party app integrations.
- Advanced IT controls.
- Enterprise-level security and compliance.
This flexibility and convenience that Teams provides can help your business learn and grow. It helps ensure business continuity through these trying times through teamwork and collaboration. The free licence is particularly helpful to start-ups and smaller businesses and will help these businesses develop without worrying about cost.
Throughout the pandemic, Teams has been a reliable work tool. Despite seeing a 500% increase in Teams use since the end of January, service has been fluid and, for the most part, seamless.
Adjusting to remote working can be a challenge. We understand and we will provide your business with the information, tools and assistance it needs. if your business is interested in Teams or and Microsoft product, call us on +44 203 034 2244 or +1 323 984 8908. Alternately, you can contact us online. As a trusted Microsoft IT partner, we will be happy to help you overcome your IT challenges so that you can set your business apart.
Cardonet have been working with businesses for over twenty years. We have helped businesses establish solid IT Strategies and deliver excellent IT Support. We have proudly helped organisations overcome their IT concerns as well as their technological challenges. Our highly experienced and friendly team of engineers based in Southern California, the United Kingdom and parts of Europe are available 24/7 to assist you.
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