This archive report was first published on 4 June 2020.
Published on June 4, 2020, Microsoft is taking on Zoom with its roadmap to accommodate 49 on-screen video callers, a move aimed at matching the current limit set by its competitor.
As the world continues to adjust to the COVID-19 pandemic, Microsoft has been working tirelessly to improve video calling, striving to take the lead in facilitating smooth working and learning.
However, the company has not confirmed when the upgrade will be rolled out, leaving users eagerly waiting for the feature.
Video conferencing facilities have been effective in ensuring learning and meetings happen uninterrupted, with Microsoft recently rolling out Teams and Skype for Consumer interoperability.
Earlier in May, the tech giant upgraded Teams video-call participants from four to nine in its push to capitalize on Teams' growth as video conferencing becomes the new norm.
According to an engineer at Microsoft Teams, the company is continuing to work to include more videos during a meeting, as well as enabling support for mobile devices.
Several teachers and instructors have commented on the forum that nine simply isn’t enough to support their remote classroom activities, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive solution.
Microsoft has touted its record in security and privacy to promote Teams, and in leaked internal marketing videos, it has considered Zoom an emerging threat to Teams.
The Wall Street Journal reported that a team of Microsoft staffers worked with administrators and teachers across New York’s school district to convert them to Microsoft's Teams.
