What’s the Difference Between Microsoft Teams & Teams Rooms?

Find the Best Option for Your Business

Video conferencing is here to stay. With more people working remotely or on hybrid schedules, video calls occur everywhere, from cafés to backyards to office conference rooms.

If your company uses video conferencing for meetings, do you have an efficient way for staff to join calls in the office? This question might seem straightforward, but things can get complicated when you’re trying to orchestrate a group video call from a conference room. From difficulties with audio feedback to issues with screen sharing, the problems are manifold.

Two prominent solutions to these problems come from Microsoft: Microsoft Teams and Teams Rooms. But what’s the difference between the two? Below, we’ll explore both Teams and Teams Rooms and how they can each benefit your Memphis, TN, company.

What Is Microsoft Teams?

Maybe your company already uses Teams, or perhaps you’re considering a switch from your current video conferencing software. Either way, Microsoft Teams is a unified communication and collaboration platform that combines chat, video meetings, file storage, and application integration. The service integrates with the company’s Office 365 subscription, including Microsoft Office, and features extensions that can sync with non-Microsoft products as well.

Primarily, Microsoft Teams caters to individual users joining video calls on their own computer or mobile device. With a simple and user-friendly interface, it allows users to schedule, join, or initiate meetings with a single click. Microsoft Teams is especially ideal for remote companies where everyone joins calls separately.

What Are Teams Rooms?

While Microsoft Teams is perfect for individual use, what if you have a group of people in a conference room looking to join a video call? That’s where Microsoft Teams Rooms comes into play.

Teams Rooms is a solution that transforms your meeting spaces—from small huddle areas to large conference rooms—into a rich, video-enabled collaboration environment. With this setup, the entire team in the room can interact in the video call in a more integrated and immersive way.

The system uses Teams Rooms certified devices, including microphones, speakerphones, and cameras from a wide range of manufacturers like Poly, Crestron, Logitech, and more. These devices work together to provide a seamless, high-quality video conferencing experience.

Should My Business Use Teams Rooms?

If your workforce is primarily remote or if individual employees frequently join video calls, the standard Microsoft Teams platform should suffice.

However, if your business model involves frequent group meetings or you have a larger in-house team that meets regularly, Teams Rooms could be an invaluable tool. It provides a dedicated, professional video conferencing setup that’s designed to handle larger group interactions more efficiently. Multiple camera streams can capture everyone in the room, while external microphones ensure the team’s input is heard. And it all connects to the call instantly for a seamless meeting experience.

If you think your business could benefit from a Teams Rooms installation, M3 Technology Group is here to help. We’re a commercial AV integrator based in the Memphis, Tennessee, area. Contact us here to get started!