We've all had those meetings or family gatherings that go on a little longer than you'd like, and Microsoft aims to end this socially-awkward occurrence. The company will now begin counting down when you're reaching the end of your meeting, but people who hate being forcefully booted out of a meeting need not fear.

Microsoft's New Gentle Meeting Timer in Teams

If you've used the free version of Zoom to hold a meeting, you're probably imagining a familiar scene. Free Zoom meetings can only last 40 minutes, and when the meeting is in its final quarter, the software will show a small but ominous counter to warn everyone when the meeting will automatically close.

The timer is both a curse for those with a lot to say and a blessing for those who end up staring toward the ceiling and wondering when it'll end. However, Microsoft is quick to clarify that Teams' new timer works differently from Zoom's.

You can read the details for yourself on the Microsoft Roadmap:

Microsoft Teams will provide an informational notification to tell users when there is 5minutes in the scheduled meeting time. It will be triggered for all schedule private and channel meetings and will not cause the meeting to end automatically.

As such, this counter is not a countdown until the meeting implodes in on itself. Instead, it's more of a gentle reminder that the scheduled ending time is approaching. When the timer reaches zero, nothing happens; the meeting is free to wrap up on its own terms.

If you have an avid distaste for Zoom's forceful meeting timers, you've probably breathed a sigh of relief. However, you need not have been worried in the first place, as Microsoft Teams now allows for unlimited free meetings in what appears to be a direct attack on its competitors.

As such, if you like to waffle on past your allotted time, you're still free to do so; just don't be surprised when your co-workers start sighing and fidgeting once the little timer reaches zero.

A Timer, but Not a Countdown

If your meetings tend to go over the time limit without you realizing it, be sure to check out Microsoft Teams when this update fully rolls out. It's another great feature that may solidify Microsoft's position as the top dog in a post-COVID remote workspace.

Microsoft is working hard on making Teams the best it can be, and for good reason. The company's services are making a huge profit in a post-pandemic world, and Microsoft is bound to want to continue the trend for as long as the work-from-home mantra rings true.

Image Credit: Vadym Pastukh / Shutterstock.com