Cited like a true journalist

We never had the ability to make outside calls from teams, only teams to teams calls. We went from physical phones on desks to Cisco soft phone since lockdown.

Got it. So basically micro$hit shut down Skype with nothing to replace it.

Yep, but don't worry I'm sure they're busy vibe coding an update to teams to allow outside calls once you sign up for a phone subscription.

I have a stroke every time I hear that obnoxious BONK and now I have to deal with another one of my boss's enigmatic poorly-worded urgent requests...

Or FAST VAN if you want to be a first aid nerd.
V - visual disturbance
A - aphasia
N - neglect (of use of body parts they would otherwise probably be using)

What does she think of Microsoft Teams?

She has an objectively correct opinion on it.

Personal photos, or personal photos?

I can call a phone number from Teams?

If you are in a meeting just click "Invite People" and type a phone number - it will call them. We have the "Team for Business". Whatever that means.

They will almost assuredly not answer because its an 800 Number, and requires them to press [n] to join call. But you can do it.

If you don't have a meeting just make one with only you - Which is coincidentally a great way to fill a calendar, and look busy to your coworkers. They ignore Busy status. When I'm in a "meeting", it doesn't even ring when they bother me.

There is so much to like!

I think my favourite is when you go through the files in a team then click "Copy link". It thinks, thinks, thinks, then when it's done it has a big green tick but doesn't actually copy the link until you click a second copy link button.

But I do quite like how when you find the file you want and switch to a chat then it loses your place. And as far as I can tell, there's no way to bookmark a folder, which is great.

Long story short I love how it tries to do everything instead of being good at one thing!

yeah i know exactly the feeling, i want to get into coding, but there is just so much information out there, some of it conflicting, much of it incomprehensible to a layman like me, it feels overwhelming, impossible
but i do think linux is much easier, in the last 5-10 years it has become much more welcoming

if you have a bit of time, and an 4+ gig usb stick, you can see it for yourself
download etcher
download linux mint (i like to get the torrents, to feel like i give back a bit)
use etcher to write the iso image on the usb
restart and select the usb in the bios boot menu (it usually shows a key to get into the bios, usually f1 or f2 or delete, and a separate one for just the boot device selection, f11 or f12, the latter only temporarily changes the boot device. if it goes by too quick, next restart you can hold the key before it even shows)(oh also on newer pcs windows can "cover up" the bios boot process, in that case you need to go through windows settings>recovery>"restart now")
wait a minute for the usb to boot (it won't be quick, especially if you're used to ssd speeds)
try mint out, see how it works. you can install stuff with the "software manager", it won't remember anything, it's all temporary (unless you delete/edit stuff from your hard drives, so be mindful of that)
watch a movie, browse the internet, try libreoffice etc, maybe see what's available of what you need for your paid projects

i imagine it won't happen immediately but if you feel okay with what you see, i'd recommend installing mint on a separate, empty ssd, set the bios to boot from that drive, install everything on there (you can put the boot partition on other drives, but i would advise against that)
this way the installer will recognise windows, and you can choose which operating system to use, when you turn on your pc, so you don't lose windows, you can get used to linux at your own pace.
i did the same thing, i had a linux (ubuntu) install for 15+ years on all my pcs, i booted it up every now and then, but there was always something that put me off, but then, about 5 years ago i tried linux mint, and slowly but surely i spent more and more time with it, until it became the default instead of windows

reading back this wall of text, i too think "simple huh", but i try to prepare for eventualities and assume little to no knowledge. i didn't even write about how to install a new ssd
and i want to be helpful not just to you, pelespirit, but anyone who might come across this

So, so true.

I redesigned my team's intranet at work so we could minimize the use of Teams as much as possible.

I appreciate you typing all that out and I saved it. I can't make any promises though.

We have teams for business but I would bet the call out feature is blocked. We started using zoom for management level meetings because a r supervisor who was on vacation needed to be included. So either management doesn't know about the call out feature (entirely likely) or our IT blocks it.

Now I'm curious, maybe I'll try calling my cell phone on Monday to see if it works or not.

This must be new because I have been first aid trained since I was 5.... I spent many recent years without renewing my certification, and I've heard of FAST, I've never heard of VAN, either independently or as an addition to fast.

I think that might be a licensing issue. The call out feature is not included in the base Teams licence. You’ll need an audio conferencing for Teams licence (included in E5) on the account of the guy who created the meeting to have the call out feature enabled.

Well I'm guessing then that we don't have that licensing.

hey you can't do that