In a bid to take on Zoom, Google Meet and other video calling platforms, Microsoft has introduced free all-day video and voice calling on Microsoft Teams. The free offering will help users connect with up to 300 participants for as long as 24 hours. Microsoft made the new announcement just days after Teams rival Zoom announced that it would temporarily lift its 40-minute meeting limit on Thanksgiving Day. 

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Along with this, Microsoft Teams is also introducing a new feature which allows users to create a group chat with up to 250 people and see up to 49 members simultaneously during virtual conversations. The company confirmed the development through a blog post. 

“To help you stay connected in the coming months, you will be able to meet for 24 hours with up to 300 participants until further specified,” the company said. 

Users can join a virtual call on Microsoft Teams without requiring a Microsoft Account or the Teams app. The participants can be invited to calls by sharing a link that can be accessed directly from a Web browser. This works similar to Zoom, Google Meet, and other similar video conferring platforms. 

To take on Zoom in another aspect, Microsoft Teams desktop and Web apps are also adding support to see up to 49 friends or family members in a gallery view or through the Together Mode feature that was introduced in June to reduce fatigue. So, now you can see everyone on the call in the same page.  

Microsoft is additionally bringing support to upload and share photos and videos directly from a computer in any personal or group chat. It also plans to update the mobile app with a feature that allows user to communicate with contacts who don't have it installed on their phones. The recipients will get messages via SMS. However, they will also receive a link to download the app.  

Microsoft is initially bringing SMS support to the Teams app in preview for its users in the US and Canada. The app is also getting the option to add group events from chats to the device's calendar, receive task and location updates in the activity feed, and add photos to personal Safe.