For the time being, Microsoft does not require a license to use special Teams Rooms hardware and is extending the deadline to September 30th.

Microsoft warned earlier this month that devices without a Teams Rooms license will no longer be able to sign in from July 1st. Manufacturers like Logitech and Lenovo sell video and audio products specifically designed to take hybrid meetings to the next level. This can range from screens to soundbars to whiteboards that companies install in a meeting room so everyone can be seen and heard during the meeting.

Microsoft announces in an update that the hard deadline is softening. Vendors and their customers have an additional 90 days to get their licenses in order and resolve any migration issues that may arise during the process. The measure will now come into force on September 30th. Microsoft provides additional text and explanations here on how to verify that your Teams Rooms devices have a valid license.

According to Microsoft, the measure is intended to ensure the safe use of such hardware, but others believe that the software giant is doing this primarily to sell more licenses. It seems Microsoft is more about principle than revenue. After all, the cheapest license formula, Teams Rooms Basic, has been free since summer 2022 and can cover up to 25 devices. A Teams Rooms Pro license costs forty dollars a month.

A shift is not an adjustment

Microsoft emphasizes that they remain steadfast and that Teams users should not expect any more mercy after September 30th. Anyone who has not yet taken out a license can no longer use their video conferencing devices.