Microsoft outlines roadmap for bringing Skype for Business features to Teams

At its Ignite 2017 conference in September, Microsoft initially confirmed plans to have Microsoft Teams replace Skype for Business in as a singular communications client in Office 365. But, although the two have some feature overlap already, Microsoft will have to work on bringing some unique features from Skype for Business over to Microsoft Teams. In a new Tech Community post, Microsoft has outlined its roadmap for doing just that (via OnMSFT).

In terms of messaging, Microsoft says it intends to offer screen sharing during chats and federation between companies by the end of Q2 2018. Also due in Q2 2018 are specific enhancements for meetings, including meeting room support with Skype Room Systems, along with "cloud video interoperability capabilities that allow third party meeting room devices to connect to Teams meetings." Finally, Microsoft plans to add voicemail for Teams by the end of this quarter, while using your existing voice line to activate calling services in Office 365 is expected for Q2 2018.

Lastly, Microsoft says new "intelligent communications" features are coming to Teams by the end of Q2 2018. These will include the ability to record a meeting to store in Teams, add transcriptions, and search for key terms.

For more, you can check out Microsoft's detailed roadmap in the Tech Community post.

Dan Thorp-Lancaster

Dan Thorp-Lancaster is the former Editor-in-Chief of Windows Central. He began working with Windows Central, Android Central, and iMore as a news writer in 2014 and is obsessed with tech of all sorts. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DthorpL and Instagram @heyitsdtl