Microsoft Teams is now available for the Surface Hub

Arif Bacchus

Microsoft has announced today on September 18th that the Teams app for Surface Hub is now generally available. This should now make the meeting experience easier for many of Microsoft’s business users with the interactive whiteboard.

To enjoy the Teams app on Hub, you should check your Surface Hub update history to confirm that KB4343889 is installed. You can then download the app from the Microsoft Store and configure. Users should be aware that today’s availability of Microsoft Teams does not mean that Microsoft is removing the Skype for Business client on Surface Hub. You can keep using both apps on Surface Hub, in one of three modes.

  • Mode 0 – Keep as is: Use this mode if your organization still uses Skype for Business primarily, but you want the ability to join Microsoft Teams meetings from Surface Hub.
  • Mode 1- Use this mode if you’re transitioning to Microsoft Teams from Skype for Business and/or your organization uses Microsoft Teams primarily, but you want the ability to join Skype for Business meetings.
  • Mode 2- The Microsoft Teams tiles are displayed on the Welcome Screen and Start Menu. All Skype for Business functionalities are disabled. Use this mode if you’re only using Microsoft Teams.

Microsoft actually built Surface Hub 2 around the Teams app, so it is nice to see that it is now finally available on the interactive whiteboard. That device was initially revealed back in May, and though some commercial customers are already using it, the firm still holds general availability in 2019. We’ll likely hear more at the October 2nd event and Ignite about both Teams and Surface Hub 2, so keep tuned for more in the weeks ahead.