Microsoft has made a significant move by announcing the integration of Teams clients for both Windows and Mac. This step aims to streamline the user experience and boost efficiency in both work-related and personal communications.
A long road to Teams unification
While Microsoft has offered a single Teams app on mobile supporting both business and personal accounts, the situation has differed on Windows and Mac platforms. Until now, Microsoft maintained two separate Teams clients: one for commercial and another for consumers. This division persisted even after the launch of the new Teams last year.
However, this is set to change soon. According to a recent entry in the Microsoft 365 roadmap, Teams will soon offer “a single desktop application for all types of users.” This means that Microsoft Teams on Windows and Mac will support all Teams accounts (work, school, or personal) in a single desktop application, eliminating redundancy.
This change is outlined with the Feature ID 383006. Microsoft’s roadmap indicates that implementation will commence in April. While details about the fate of existing clients remain unclear, it’s possible that the commercial client will be updated to accommodate consumer accounts, and the Teams version in Windows 11 will remain exclusive to Windows for now.
It’s worth noting that the European Union is closely scrutinizing Microsoft’s decisions regarding Teams. They are wary of changes that could further solidify Teams’ dominance within Windows 11. Despite efforts, Teams has struggled to gain consumer traction and has primarily remained associated with businesses and educational institutions.
