Microsoft Teams Meeting

Ideal for real-time collaboration and conversation between a group of peers. Attendees can display their video, create a whiteboard, or share content. Meeting invitations can be sent to individuals or groups of people directly in Microsoft Teams, or via Outlook.

Due to the various attendee participation tools available, Teams Meetings are best suited for smaller, collaborative efforts, rather than a structured one-to-many presentation.

Teams live events

Designed for presentation-style meetings, where most attendees may “view only”. Attendees are sent a link to join the event, but can only participate via text-based Q&A. The standard live event mode allows multiple virtual presenters to share audio, webcams and their screens to present content. There are some limitations to presenter controls, and all presenters must be invited before the event starts as no individuals can be added while the event is underway.

Alternatively, schedule a town hall, which offers additional features.

Microsoft Teams webinars

Webinars bring together the best of both meetings and live events' features, so that you can successfully host large events. Additionally, the event can also be broadcasted to a further 10 000 individuals, as you would with a live event. These additional people will, however, only be able to participate via the chat functionality. 

Comparison guide

Features
Meetings
Live events/ town halls
Webinars

Maximum number of participants

 

Up to 1000

10 000

1000 interactive (i.e. interact the way you would in a standard team meeting)

Use video and audio

 

Yes

Roles-based in that only presenters can use these features

Yes

Share content

Yes, but depends on meeting permissions

 

Roles-based in that only presenters and producers can use these features

Yes, but depends on meeting permissions

Privately view shared content

 

Yes

No

Yes

Take control of a shared presentation

Yes, but depends on meeting permissions

 

No

Yes, but depends on meeting permissions

Mute participants

 

Yes, but depends on meeting permissions

 

Producers control when presenters may speak. Attendees can only listen.

Yes, but depends on meeting permissions

Remove participants

Yes, but depends on meeting permissions

 

No

Yes, but depends on meeting permissions

Admit people from lobby

Yes, but depends on meeting permissions

 

No

Yes, but depends on meeting permissions

Change participant roles

Yes, but depends on meeting permissions

 

Yes, but is role-based

Yes, but depends on meeting permissions

Recordings

Yes, but depends on meeting permissions

 

Yes

Yes, but depends on meeting permissions

Communicate via chat?

Yes, using the meeting chat functionality

Yes, using the Q&A functionality, if enabled

 

Yes, using the meeting chat functionality

Invite guests

 

Yes

Yes, by sharing the event link and requiring no authentication

 

Yes

Restrict to UCT staff and students only

 

Yes

Yes

Yes

Work for online and blended (a combination of online and face-to-face) meetings

 

Yes

No

Yes

Ideal for classroom style teaching

 

Yes, but it is recommended using either a headset or a separate set of mic and speakers

 

No

Yes, but it is recommended using either a headset or a separate set of mic and speakers

Keynote addresses

Yes

 

Yes

Yes

Audio/video delay

None, as participants communicate in real-time

 

About 20-30 seconds

None, as participants communicate in real-time

Breakout rooms Yes No

Yes

 

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