​Microsoft’s naming convention for Microsoft Teams is not very helpful.

There are two elements to Teams – both called “Teams”!

  1. Microsoft Teams client (desktop and web application), and
  2. Microsoft TEAMS “hub”

1. Teams client

The Teams client – is a desktop application which installs on Windows, macOS, iOS and Android (it is also available via a web browser). The Teams client is used for instant chat with ANYBODY in Oxford who has the Teams client installed. You can schedule video conference calls through the Teams client to anybody in the world – even if they are not members of Oxford. For example, University Admissions Interviews used Microsoft Teams in December 2019 and 2020.

Learn more about the Teams client:

Download Teams client here – https://teams.microsoft.com/downloads

2. TEAMS “hub”

Then there are TEAMS – which can be thought of as a “House” or “Hub” where several people from any College or Dept within Oxford can connect and work on a common topic. A TEAM can store and share documents and resources, however, EVERYONE who is a member of the TEAM will have access to EVERYTHING stored within the TEAM hub.

The TEAM “Hub” is then separated into virtual rooms called Channels. Channels are like break out areas for specific topics which are sub-topics to the main TEAM topic. By default, Channels are readable by any member of the TEAM. You can, however, create private Channels and restrict access to a subset of the members of the TEAM.

Can you see what I mean about Microsoft’s naming convention?!

So, you can have the Teams client installed and running WITHOUT being a member of a specific TEAM. If you just want to be able to instant message and video call people, then you just need to download the Teams client and login with your OXFORD SSO credentials.

However, if you want a TEAM hub where you add lots of users and don’t mind them having access to everything stored within the TEAM then we can request the setup of a Microsoft TEAM from IT Services.

Things to think about:

  • If you do want a TEAM setup then what do you want it called?
  • Who would be your TWO administrators? At least one administrator will need to be a permanent member.