The extension of the push-to-talk walkie talkie feature in Microsoft Teams to more devices should make staying in touch with coworkers in the field a lot easier for firstline employees. 

The functionality will be accessible worldwide on Microsoft Teams phones in September 2021, according to a new article on the Microsoft 365 Roadmap. 

Users with compatible Microsoft Teams phones will be able to use their smartphone as a walkie talkie that works over both a cellular and wireless connection once the capability is available. Users will be able to talk to their team by pressing and holding a button and listening by releasing the button. 

Expansion 

The functionality was first made available for Android devices in January 2020, when Microsoft highlighted in a blog post how Teams’ walkie talkie feature might help staff carry fewer devices on a daily basis while also giving greater security over analogue devices. 

Microsoft claimed at the time that “this feature, integrated directly into Teams, decreases the number of devices employees must carry while also lowering IT expenses.” 

“Unlike analogue equipment connected to insecure networks, consumers no longer have to worry about crosstalk or external eavesdropping.” This feature may be used across geographic areas because Walkie Talkie works through Wi-Fi or cellular data.” 

Teams Walkie Talkie accessories 

While the walkie talkie feature of Microsoft Teams will work with most Android smartphones and tablets, it may work better with a rugged smartphone because many of these devices have customizable buttons. 

In a blog post, Samsung revealed how Teams’ walkie talkie feature can be mapped to the programmable button on the Galaxy XCover Pro or even its new Galaxy XCover 5, allowing workers to use push-to-talk (PTT) capability without having to open their smartphone. 

The Jabra BlueParrot and Klein Valor Speaker have both been verified to operate with Teams Walkie Talkie, according to Microsoft. Firstline employees may enhance Teams’ walkie talkie functionality by attaching either a wired or wireless headset. 

When the functionality is available in September 2021, you’ll need to launch the Teams app on your smartphone and search for the Walkie Talkie symbol in the menu bar to get started. If it isn’t there, don’t panic; you can find it by tapping on More choices. 

Microsoft has a variety of Teams phones available, with Lenovo, Yealink, and Poly among the manufacturers that have signed on as partners.