

In addition to the base features of the paid version, companies can purchase several add-on options. Thus, most businesses are likely to opt for a paid version if they rely heavily on collaboration features. Additionally, useful features, such as being able to record online meetings and several administration and management options, are not available on the free version. For example, file storage capacity of the Microsoft Teams free version is set at 2 GB per user of shared space, but all paid versions enable up to 1 TB per user. Features and capabilities of the paid versions are identical, while the free version has limitations. Pricing ranges from $5 per user, per month for the Microsoft 365 Business Basic plan to $57 per user, per month for the Microsoft 365 E5 Enterprise plan. Teams is packaged as part of the Microsoft 365 Business and Enterprise bundles. In essence, Microsoft created an environment where IT leaders could say, "Since we're already paying for it through Microsoft 365, we may as well use Teams as our business collaboration platform." So far, this tactic has worked well. Microsoft's goal was simple: to make Teams available to as many businesses as possible and to deter IT leaders from choosing alternative collaboration software. In 2018, Microsoft launched a free version of Teams for those who only required a few of the more popular features, such as chat, online meetings and file storage. Microsoft launched Teams in 2017 as the successor for its aging but popular Skype for Business tool, adding it as a core component of Microsoft 365 Business and Enterprise.

Microsoft Teams history and product direction
