Getting the best audio and video experiences in Teams with devices
Published Dec 10 2018 08:00 PM 45.7K Views

Microsoft Teams is Microsoft’s fastest growing business app to date with over 329,000 organizations using Teams and 60 customers who have 10,000 or more active users. This has ushered in Teams as the standard for chat and communications.

 

Since Teams is built on the latest audio and video (A/V) codec components available to the industry, companies can take full advantage of the rich media capabilities inside of Teams.

 

For more than a decade, Microsoft has offered a robust certification program where partner devices must meet high thresholds of audio quality and usability to deliver the best experience in a call or meeting. Today, you can choose from over 50 headsets and speakerphones that have been certified in partnership with top global manufacturers of enterprise audio devices. We’ve seen that certified devices offer 20% improvement in overall A/V quality in a call or meeting.

 

Skype for Business certified devices are also supported in Microsoft Teams

 

We have many headsets and speakerphones that are certified for Skype for Business. Plus, you can continue to benefit from your investment in certified devices as they are also supported in Microsoft Teams. To learn more about devices click here.

 

  • Headsets come in two categories: Wired and Wireless. Wired headsets are connected via USB while wireless headsets are connected via Bluetooth or Digital Enhanced Cordless Technologies (DECT) using a USB dongle or base station.  These devices come in Monaural (single earpiece) and Binaural (dual earpiece) options in several wearing styles such as earbuds, over the ear, and behind the neck. 

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  • We also certify cameras for optimal video call and meeting performance. Examples of cameras that are certified include offerings from Logitech.

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What it takes to become a certified device

Certified Skype for Business and Teams audio devices are tested by independent labs to provide users with high-end audio, without distortion, echo, glitches or other noise. Both personal and speakerphone type devices are tested for microphone quality, noise cancellation ability, speakerphone quality and any built-in processing.

Devices are tested to perform well in a range of environments, for example, canceling out your neighbor’s voice from being picked up by the microphone (e.g. in an open office setting), or ensuring microphone pickup for speakers at all corners of a meeting room.

When it comes to cameras, products are tested for color of the image, image detail, frame rate, field of view, and more. All certified devices must meet high requirements around all these aspects so that our customers can not only be heard but also seen. The certification process is outlined here.

In addition to high quality, certified devices offer a plug-and-play user experience (no additional drivers or set up required). Plus, your investment is protected as they support firmware upgrades as changes and updates are made.

Device controls that certified devices provide

Predictable call control, such as mute, unmute, answer, and volume up or down with certified devices will work seamlessly with both Skype for Business and Teams. 

Simplified support

If your certified device is not working with Teams or Skype for Business, all of our partners are committed to working with Microsoft to resolve any issues, another reason why getting a certified device is a better way to have meetings and calls.

What’s next ...

We are working closely with leading device manufacturers partners on our evolving portfolio of peripherals and moving forward these new devices will get Certified for Microsoft Teams. The certification includes all the criteria for Skype for Business, plus some additional requirements such as:

  • receiving Teams notifications
  • enabling invocation of voice skills via Teams

Remember to bookmark this page as we will continuously release new devices here:

https://aka.ms/certifieddevices

 

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