'Microsoft Teams' gets new updates including Cortana integration and more features

Marking the first anniversary of Microsoft Teams, Microsoft has unveiled some new features for Microsoft Teams, a competitor to Slack. The new features include Cortana integration, inline message translation for Teams and many more features.

The major highlight of the newly launched features was the Cortana integration which lets you use voice commands to make calls, join meetings and add new participants. The functionality will be available across platforms where Teams is available, including IP phones and conference room devices.

New #MicrosoftTeams features coming soon! Cloud recording, in-line message translation, new enterprise-grade calling features, #mobile sharing and lots of new device abilities! https://t.co/9cYKyhPskG#1YearOfTeams

— Microsoft Teams (@MicrosoftTeams) March 12, 2018

Also launched is the cloud recording which lets Microsoft Teams record meetings with a click, then create an automatic transcription of what was said. Meeting attendees can choose to play back the meeting in full, or just a key part, using the transcription as a reference. Additionally, Inline message translation was also announced which allows people with different languages to fluidly communicate with one another by translating posts in channels and chat.

Alongside Cortana and translation, Microsoft is also adding cloud recording for meetings with automatic transcription and time coding, background blur on video, mobile sharing for meetings, and the ability to find and add Skype Room Systems into any meetings.

In addition to the features, Microsoft also announced Direct Routing which will enable customers to use their existing telephony infrastructure with Teams for calling. All these capabilities will be available in the second quarter of 2018.