As Microsoft Teams has expanded from a workplace chat platform into an all-encompassing communications ecosystem, businesses have demanded an increasingly extensive array of hardware options to deliver a professional, productive working experience. And they want this experience without worrying about fiddly technical details.
Guaranteed performance. Guaranteed simplicity. That’s the goal.
In response to this demand, Microsoft works closely with trusted manufacturers to provide reliable, business-grade devices that combine effortless platform integration with professional performance — guaranteed.
They have established several certification programs for a range of devices like headsets, video bars, and speakerphones. Each program covers specific device requirements for specific work scenarios.
Here’s an example. Microsoft has two certification programs for Microsoft Teams Rooms video conferencing hardware based on the operating system in use: Windows or Android. We covered in detail the differences between the two:
- When to Use Microsoft Teams Rooms on Windows Devices
- When to Use Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android Devices
Here’s another example. If you want a professional headset for use in noisy areas, look for a headset with a Premium Microphone for Open Office. This designation indicates an exceptional level of background noise reduction, ensuring your voice will sound clear.
While intended for open office headsets, the designation guarantees noise-cancelling performance that’s just as valuable in shared workspaces, public work areas like cafés or airports, or any similar noisy environment.
One of the newest certifications is the topic of our blog today: Microsoft Teams Native Bluetooth Certified. What does that mean? What are its benefits for you and your business?
Let’s get into it!
Microsoft Teams Native Bluetooth Certification
One of the big advantages of using a Bluetooth headset is that nearly every communications device supports it. This means you can, in theory, use a Bluetooth headset with pretty much anything you’d want to use a headset with.
In practice, however, this can be a bit tricky — particularly when it comes to using a Bluetooth headset with a desktop or laptop computer. Most of the time, you need a dongle to connect a headset to a computer.
With Microsoft Teams Native Bluetooth you no longer need to use a dongle to connect to a computer — with certain limitations. Let’s explain:
- Microsoft Teams Native Bluetooth certification applies to headsets and speakerphones used with the Microsoft Teams desktop client.
- Certified devices will be able to connect with a Windows 11 computer for use with the Microsoft Teams app without a dongle and with no extra configuration. It’s better than plug-and-play because you don’t even need to “plug” anything.
- Audio quality will be of the same professional quality you get using the headset otherwise.
- You will have standard Teams headset functionality: calling, mute, Teams button.
To use the headset with your computer, put it in pairing mode. You will then either select it via Swift Pair if your computer supports that feature or select it manually in the Settings app.
You’re good to go!
Now for the limitations. For now, it only works with Windows 11 computers — not Windows 10. It isn’t supported by macOS computers yet, so if you use the Teams client on an iMac or MacBook, you’re out of luck.
There’s a range of hardware, driver, and app version requirements that you can find on the Microsoft Teams Learn website (external link).
It’s also worth clarifying: the headset will work with all your other devices — smartphone, tablet, VoIP phone — in the same way it always has. Native Bluetooth is an additional convenience; it doesn’t affect regular headset functionality at all.
Why Is Native Bluetooth for Microsoft Teams Important?
Put simply, it’s another step on the road to convenience.
According to Microsoft (external link), customers requested a direct headset connection with their computers for two reasons:
- It frees up a USB port for use with another device. In our age of dongles and adapters and multiple monitors and external hard drives, USB ports are valuable real estate.
- It frees you from worrying about bringing a USB dongle while traveling. If you’re at the conference hotel and want to take a call on your laptop, what happens when you realize you forgot the dongle?
Microsoft Teams Native Bluetooth solves both concerns.
We would add that it also frees you from worrying about USB port type. The transition from USB-A to USB-C is still underway. If you only have a USB-C port open and the headset dongle is USB-A, you’re out of luck.
Many headset manufacturers now provide a USB-C dongle with a USB-C to USB-A adapter in the box, but not all of them. And worrying about an adapter on top of worrying about the dongle itself is one more inconvenience you could do without.
Microsoft Teams Native Bluetooth headsets are the easiest headsets to use with the platform yet. And in today’s hectic business world, simplicity is gold.