![Microsoft Teams: We will retire SMS invitations from Teams to external partners [MC1057714]](https://mwpro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/pexels-chevanon-325044-1024x683.webp)
Message ID: MC1057714
Effective May 17, 2025, we will retire the option for users to invite external partners to Microsoft Teams by sending an SMS to their phone number to join Teams and continue the conversation. We are retiring this feature to provide a more consistent experience. Organizations can continue to use emails to invite partners outside of their organizations for external teamwork.
Alternatively, customers can sign up for a two-way SMS calling plan to continue inviting external partners to Teams by sending an SMS to their phone number.
This change will happen automatically by the specified date. No admin action is required. Please notify your users about this change, update relevant documentation as appropriate, and share alternatives for users to invite external partners to Teams.
Learn more
- Add or invite people outside your org to a chat in Microsoft Teams – Microsoft Support (will be updated before feature retires)
- About two-way SMS: Planning for SMS in Microsoft Teams – Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Learn
Source: Microsoft
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The recent announcement regarding the retirement of SMS invitations for external partners in Microsoft Teams, effective May 17, 2025, certainly stirs the pot for both admins and users alike. While this change aims to streamline the user experience, it does raise some eyebrows and questions in the community.
For admins, the good news is that no immediate action is required. This means less administrative hassle—no need to scramble for updates or reconfigure settings. However, there is a call to action to communicate this change to users and update documentation accordingly. This could be a great opportunity for admins to engage with their teams, perhaps even with a light-hearted email or a fun meme about the transition. After all, who doesn’t love a good laugh while adjusting to new protocols?
On the user side, while the retirement of SMS invitations may feel like a small inconvenience, it nudges everyone towards more consistent and reliable communication methods, primarily through email. This could actually enhance the collaborative experience by encouraging users to familiarize themselves with email invitations, which are often more secure and provide richer context than a simple SMS. Plus, let’s be honest, who hasn’t accidentally sent a work-related SMS to the wrong person? Talk about an awkward Monday morning!
The impact of these changes is likely to be mixed. Some may miss the convenience of SMS, but many will appreciate the clarity and consistency that email invites bring. It’s a classic case of “out with the old, in with the new,” and who knows—this could lead to a more organized approach to external collaborations.
What do you think about this change? Will you miss the SMS invites, or are you ready to embrace the email revolution? Share your thoughts below and let’s get the conversation rolling! And if you’re looking for more insights, don’t forget to check out additional posts on mwpro.co.uk. Your voice matters in this evolving landscape!