Ignite 2019: Microsoft Teams updated with To Do, Planner, Yammer integrations, lots more

Microsoft is using its Ignite 2019 conference as the stage to announce some key changes to Microsoft Teams. The popular collaboration app is picking up new features and integrations with Microsoft To-Do, Microsoft Outlook, and much more.

According to Microsoft, all these features are responses to requests from its top customers. Soon, users will be able to enjoy some new features of Teams such as secure private channels, multiwindow chats, meetings. Importantly, Microsoft is also bringing over task integrations with To-Do and Planner. And, to boost its collaboration abilities, Microsoft is introducing abilities to send an email thread to a Teams channel for discussions. “With the new Teams Chat button in Outlook it is easy to move back-and-forth email conversations out of email into a Teams chat,” explained Frank Shaw, Corporate Vice President, Communications.”

Additionally, Microsoft is also integrating Yammer into Teams. It will be added to the left-hand rail and will make Teams not only a hub for collaboration, but also for workplace communities. Other changes coming to Teams include a new experience and tools for healthcare and Firstline Workers. These people can now create and conduct consultations through Teams. This will pair up with features like SMS Sign-in and Global Sign out.

Finally, for those Teams users who are on Linux devices, Microsoft will finally be launching a Teams app for Linux. The Teams client will support abilities like chats, meetings, and calling. It will be available in the .deb and .rpm formats and will start rolling out as a preview later this year.