Forum Discussion
Tripartio
Mar 06, 2020Iron Contributor
Create permanent video meeting link in Microsoft Teams
I schedule many videoconferences with people outside my organization (some of them repeated) and the way I do it now is to create a Teams meeting link from my Outlook invitation and then send this to the meeting invitees. I would prefer to create a permanent link that I can always give to people, for example, in an email message, without having to generate a new Teams meeting each time in Outlook.
I considered simply reusing the same link from a previous meeting for subsequent meetings, but it seems that each Teams meeting creates its own space in Teams. So, it seems that people I meet with later would be able to see the names of those whom I met with earlier using the same link, as well as any conversations I might have had with them. So, I don't think this is what I want--I want a link that gives meeting attendees access to only the present, live meeting, with no access to past exchanges using the same link. This is important to respect the privacy of each meeting.
I initially posted this as a help question to Microsoft Teams support, but they said that it is not an existing feature. If this is not currently a feature, could anyone here possibly suggest a workaround that would let me use the same permanent link for all my videoconferences (e.g. with a short URL), but that preserves the privacy of attendees across different meetings using that same link? This is similar to what many videoconferencing services (e.g. Zoom and Whereby) offer.
You could ask HubSpot to add functionality to automatically generate Microsoft Teams links using the API: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-ca/graph/teams-concept-overview. There are specific commands that can generate new meeting links each time you need them: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-ca/graph/api/application-post-onlinemeetings?view=graph-rest-1.0&tabs=http
You might find them surprisingly responsive, since Covid-19 has boosted Microsoft Teams to be one of the leading online meeting solutions.
Actually, my original use case was similar: I used x.ai to schedule meetings and I was frustrated by the lack of permanent links. But then x.ai added Microsoft Teams link generation, and my most pressing issue is actually solved now. That said, I believe there is still a need for regular users like us to be able to provide a permanent teams link.
- Zachary_WongCopper Contributor
Tripartio
Hey, We know that meeting experience is of vital importance to you and how bad in teams, so we are creating a tool to elevate online meetings in teams. Check it out at meetplus.net and tell me more about your frustrations. - brainstewnCopper ContributorAfter over 5000 votes Microsoft is testing a native shortener https://microsoftteams.uservoice.com/forums/555103-public/suggestions/33010897-url-shortener-for-teams
- Shahbaz_FawbushCopper Contributor
Tripartio One solution may be to reuse a link but with guest access turned on. i.e. you share the link that allows anonymous guest access and doesn't require sign in to teams. I think this way your clients don't have access to the team channel history (or to chat for that matter).
- lylesangelCopper Contributor
Shahbaz_Fawbush I too have been looking at this in teams. The 'Channels' functionality allows me to send out a static link for the channel. I sent the link to a a few people, gave them access to my channel and every time after that, they can click the channel link and come on in!
hope that helps
- gallo2002Copper Contributor
Tripartio I am looking for this functionality as well. I am a brand new Teams user and my use case is that I give a permanent meeting link to a 3rd party to schedule meetings for me and my sales team. These 3rd party service providers do not have access to our team's environment. This was a great feature in that other conferencing tool that rhymes with "oom".
- TripartioIron Contributor
- DanetreeBrass Contributor
I also need to be able to share a URL to link directly into an open channel video conference.
This works very well with Zoom, Google Meet, Miro, MURAL, RemoteHQ and pretty much every other video conference collaborative workplace.
Microsoft Teams is falling behind by limiting the ability to share a URL to enter a public video conference. Until they get their act together it looks like other platforms are better suited for ease of use and scenarios where this is essential.
- mentions1980Copper Contributor3 years later... just tried to start a video call. just because someone isn't on my domain doesn't mean I should have to be a digital contortionist to get them on the call. we used Facebook Messenger video chat when I gave up.
- GrechineCopper Contributor
I am having the same issue as the others on this thread.
We currently use Go To Meeting for personal meeting rooms to have quick support calls with clients.
The issues with the Teams "Meet Now" links are:
- The chat history is exposed to new attendees. There is no way to clear that out or prevent new attendees from seeing it without disabling the chat function.
- The meeting must have at least 2 people (including the primary user). Therefore, you cannot remove all past attendees but always have to keep at least 1 past attendee.
Anyone have any solutions?
I have seen the recurring meeting recommendation. Does that solve the 2 issues listed above?
- SteuartRCopper ContributorI need this feature as well. Our usage case is we use HubSpot to let people book meetings with us. HubSpot automatically them send a (Zoom) link to a meeting room. If this was capable via Teams, I would not need Zoom.
- GeorgeVromoCopper Contributor
SteuartR I am in the same situation and very frustrated... I have a HubSpot account which prospective customers click on a link to schedule meetings with me. How is HubSpot supposed to send them a meeting link if the Microsoft Teams URL changes for every meeting?!?
My company has recently taken away WebEx due to COVID budget constraints in which I am now stuck using Microsoft Teams exclusively. I don't understand why Teams does not allow us to share the same URL Link for all meetings. This could be resolved simply by requiring a unique password for each meeting, which should enable me to use the Same URL without issue!
- TripartioIron Contributor
You could ask HubSpot to add functionality to automatically generate Microsoft Teams links using the API: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-ca/graph/teams-concept-overview. There are specific commands that can generate new meeting links each time you need them: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-ca/graph/api/application-post-onlinemeetings?view=graph-rest-1.0&tabs=http
You might find them surprisingly responsive, since Covid-19 has boosted Microsoft Teams to be one of the leading online meeting solutions.
Actually, my original use case was similar: I used x.ai to schedule meetings and I was frustrated by the lack of permanent links. But then x.ai added Microsoft Teams link generation, and my most pressing issue is actually solved now. That said, I believe there is still a need for regular users like us to be able to provide a permanent teams link.
- jhludwigCopper Contributor
Tripartio I am experimenting with creating a long-lived meeting for myself -- 9-5 every workday for a month. Creates one URL that i can share with everyone to drop in on me. Not exactly your use case, but it does solve the adhoc meeting issue and gives me a URL similar to a webex personal meeting room or a Zoom personal room
- andreasringqvistCopper Contributor
I'm in a similar position and a bit unsure what to do.
I'm holding virtual agile stand up meetings each day with my team an in addition we have sprint plannings and retrospectives. Until now we have been using a single channel for all the meetings and i have copied the link from previous meeting invitations. I only invite persons within my company and the meetings aren't above 10 persons, so if someone is in the wrong meeting it's very easy to notice and challenge them.
The merit of this is that when there is a meeting I just open Teams and choose the "Agile meeting" from my favourites. I dont have to go through outlook each time. I minor hassle, but still... Also if someone that isn't invited feel the need to join they know where to find us.
The drawback i'm aware of is that it's a bit fiddly to create new meetings, the "create teams meeting" in outlook is very handy.
Difference here from OP is that i don't mind the history beeing availiable as it's more or less the same persons beeing invited each time.
Is there any risks/problems that I'm not aware of that I should factor in to the decision to either reuse or create new channels?