Mastering Microsoft 365: New Features Add New Collaboration Options

Microsoft has added features to Microsoft 365. Now you can create Shared Channels in Teams for users outside the team, use Bookings on the web instead of via the mobile app and display your work location in Teams and Outlook.

The most significant addition is Shared Channels in Microsoft Teams. Shared channels in Microsoft Teams create collaboration spaces where you can invite people who are not in the team to access just the shared channel. They are meant to facilitate and enable collaboration with users inside and outside a team. Only the users who are owners or members of the shared channel can access the channel.

While shared channels sound similar to private channels, there are some setup requirements and limitations on use. Both private and shared channels have restricted access. With private channels anyone, including guests (Microsoft guest account with any email address), can be added as a member of a private channel as long as they are already members of the team.

Shared channels can include people who are NOT members of the team. However, shared channels can only be used for internal people and external organizations that use Microsoft services. Details on use and setup can be found in this article.

There are also two other more minor changes:

• Bookings Switches to Web Access: Microsoft Bookings app on iOS and Android has retired and was removed from App Stores. To continue to use bookings, visit Microsoft’s mobile-friendly, web version to access Bookings web page (login may be required: https://outlook.office.com/bookings/homepage) on your mobile browser.
• Share Work Locations in Outlook and Teams: Your work location can now be included on your contact cards in Outlook and Teams. You must set your location for the feature to work; this article on Microsoft’s site provides details. To set your work schedule in Outlook on the Web, do the following first select Settings > View all Outlook settings > Calendar. Then choose work hours and location, and then define your work schedule by choosing days, times, and locations. 

If you have questions about this change, please contact the IT Service Desk at 614-688-4357.