The desktop version of Microsoft Teams is adding a new feature that will give users the ability to merge calls. The Microsoft 365 roadmap listing for the feature suggests that the rollout for this update is currently in progress and should be complete by the end of this month.
Previously, the app allowed users to make and receive several PSTN calls, but there was no option to merge them. This functionality is available in Skype for Business and users have been complaining about its absence in Microsoft Teams for a while now.
Fortunately, the company has finally decided to incorporate their feedback by introducing this capability in the app. The new Call merging experience enables users to combine their “active unheld 1:1 call into another 1:1 call or another group call.” The feature is available for both VOIP and PSTN calls in Microsoft Teams.
In the Teams desktop app, the Call Merge option is enabled by default, and users can now combine calls in a couple of ways. They can either merge an incoming call with an ongoing call or make a new call and merge it with an existing call. To do this, navigate to the call controls, select the More options button and then click the “Call merge” icon. The app will automatically put the first call on hold when the user makes another call.
The Call merging experience comes in handy when a person is in a group or 1:1 call and might want to invite another colleague to discuss a relevant topic. This feature is only available for desktop users for now, and it’s not clear when the company plans to ship it to mobile. It supports top browsers like Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and Safari.
