Microsoft is now offering a free six-month trial globally for a premium tier of Microsoft Teams, Business Insider first reported on Tuesday. Microsoft themselves released an article two days ago regarding the 6-month free Office 365 E1 trial stating that it is now available “in response to the increased need for employees to work from home (WFH) in response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak”. This particular Tier was originally designed to enable hospitals, schools, and businesses in China to get up and running quickly on Microsoft Teams, and that tier is now available globally. However, when you try to sign up for it, you’ll be prompted to work with a Microsoft partner or a member of Microsoft’s sales team who will send you a promo code in an email to get it set up.
Who isn’t Eligible:
- This offer isn’t available for GCC, GCC High, DoD, or EDU customers.
- For GCC, Check out the Office 365 G1 Trial.
- EDU Customers should use the free Office 365 A1 License.
On March 10th, Microsoft says it will also roll out an update to the free version of Teams that will lift restrictions on how many users can be part of a team and allow users to schedule video calls and conferences.
In times of trouble, the greater Seattle community has a strong track record of pulling together. COVID-19 calls for our community to come together once again. https://t.co/IvFthWwsCo
— Brad Smith (@BradSmi) March 9, 2020
“As our community focuses on public health needs during the COVID-19 outbreak, it’s important that we also rally together to address the unmet economic needs developing around us. That’s why we’re partnering today with the two largest broad-based regional foundations to strengthen the community’s safety net through this crisis. The Seattle Foundation, United Way of King County, Microsoft, Amazon and Starbucks, in coordination with King County and the City of Seattle, will launch a regional COVID-19 Response Fund (CRF) to address the emerging community needs of COVID-19. Microsoft is making an initial $1 million anchor donation to help launch this effort immediately,”
Says Brad Smith, Microsoft President.
Both Google and Microsoft have also responded to COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, by canceling conferences taking place in April and May. Google has also halted most international travel for employees, and Microsoft has recommended that employees work remotely to help prevent the spread of the disease.
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