Apple users are in for a welcome boost in productivity when it comes to using Microsoft Teams on their mobile or tablet device.
The video conferencing platform has revealed that it is working to bring picture-in-picture mode to iPhone and iPad users, allowing them to view multiple windows at once on their device.
This could mean that users can make a video call on their device while viewing a useful document or presentation at the same time, without having to switch between apps and possibly interrupt their call.
Microsoft Teams Picture-in-Picture for iOS
In Microsoft 365's official roadmap entry (opens in a new tab) for the update, the company notes that "the new Picture-in-Picture mode lets you view your meeting in a resizable window while using other apps on your mobile device.
The feature is still listed as "in development" but has an expected availability date of December 2022, which means users shouldn't wait too long. Once released, it will be available to all Microsoft Teams iOS users around the world.
The release is the latest in a series of productivity-related Microsoft Teams releases as it continues to try to improve the usability and efficiency of its platform.
This includes a number of speed-related updates under the hood aimed at improving the user experience when browsing Microsoft Teams, namely an updated framework that can now render HTML trees faster, execute JavaScript, and serialize arrays more efficiently. .
The company says that these changes should contribute to a 30% increase in speed when switching between Microsoft Teams chats or channels.
In other multitasking news, the company also recently announced that in-app gaming is coming to Microsoft Teams.
Far from being just a distraction, though, Microsoft says the gaming interaction is designed to address some of the biggest challenges of the hybrid workplace, including the "struggle to build trust, bond, and improve employee morale." .
It also recently revealed that 1:1 and group call transcription is now available in the Microsoft Teams app for Android, giving users the ability to review exactly what was said or if details were missed.
Users will also be able to start transcribing meetings in Microsoft Teams for iOS and Android, as well as being able to view meeting transcripts after their calls end.