[✅ Solution] Connected Accounts - Microsoft Outlook

[CarsonRedCliffLabs]

Can anyone explain the expected functionality of the setting under ‘Connected Accounts’ under Preferences where it has the option to connect a Microsoft Account?

It says “Connect your calendar and start Teams calls directly from Tape”

I have never been a microsoft outlook or teams user therefore I have never had any reason to play with this option and see how it works.

I have recently helped some teams onboard to Tape however who do utilize Microsoft accounts. Theyj have found and connected this setting, but they are expressing frustration that no calendar items are actually appearing to sync or be connected in any way at all.
Can anyone confirm if this is a live/useful feature? What are the expected feature benefits here?

[Jason]

You can (or at least could, I can’t test it as I have moved away from Microsoft) escalate Tape chats to Teams calls:

Honestly I can’t remember about the calendar I thought it was possible to have some sort of sync but i could be completely wrong.

It should be said this Teams call only worked to other Teams users based on the email address that was in the Tape Member it didn’t work using Teams Voice (MS Telephony offering).

As I say though I have not been a Microsoft user for a fair while (and have actually been discouraging clients recently) so I could well be remembering things wrong.

[1F2Ns]

Side question: @Jason what are you suggesting to clients now? We have been in the Google ecosystem since around 2012. As always, I’m just curious.

[Jason]

Hi @1F2Ns

Looks like my first Google Workspace was created in 2007:

However to try and answer your question with something slightly better than: “it depends”.

If you really want to use a traditional suite; something like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Zoom One, or AWS Office — then Google Workspace is the one I currently recommend. It’s clean, works well across devices, and collaboration is seamless, assuming you’re comfortable with your data sitting in Google’s ecosystem.

However, if you’re building a remote-first or async-friendly team, or simply want more flexibility and control, there’s a strong case for skipping the big suites altogether (all of them in my view are still very synchronous focused) and going modular, using best-in-class tools for each area instead.

In this approach, you might combine:

• Fastmail for email and calendar
• Cal.com for scheduling
• Bubbles for async video and meeting recordings
• Twist for team communication
• Outline for internal documentation and content creation — or something similar like Docmost
• This also opens the door more naturally to using Tape as a central control system and unlocking all its other amazing use cases

Then, and this is a big part of the equation: pair that modular stack with Apple hardware.

Even the base-model Apple Silicon Mac Mini or MacBook Air often:

• Costs the same or less than an equivalent Windows business machine
• Lasts longer, performs better, and is generally more reliable
• Comes with Pages, Numbers, and Keynote — which are more than good enough for most business needs

Taken together, this gives you a robust, modern work environment without being locked into a monolithic suite, and often at a lower total cost of ownership.

As a real-life example: my main machine is a 2020 M1 MacBook Air. It’s still the best laptop I’ve ever had, and also the cheapest and longest-lasting. I’ve used it every day for (around) five years. It’s been thrown into bags without a case, dropped on the floor more times than I’d like to admit, and it still does everything I ask of it.

[1F2Ns]

I appreciate the well thought out reply. I am certain that this is going to help somebody in the future.

[Leo]

Hi @CarsonRedCliffLabs,

I can totally understand your confusion. The wording about the Microsoft connection was definitely misleading.

We originally planned to build a connection for Microsoft calendars, but then we decided on a more general solution: the iCal link. You can use this link for mobile, Microsoft, and Google calendars. You can find it in the calendar settings. Each user can use their personal iCal link to sync Tape entries to their calendar. Just note that this is a one-way sync from Tape to your calendar, not the other way around.

Sorry again for the confusing wording. We’ve already put in a change, and in the next days the text will be updated so it no longer mentions the calendar here.

As @Jason already kindly explained, this Microsoft connection is only for starting Teams calls directly from the Tape chat. This was a feature many users requested when more people started using Teams more.

And thanks a lot, @Jason, for your detailed explanation about how you work with Google Suite together with Tape!

All the best,
Leo

[CarsonRedCliffLabs]

thank you all for the input and for that official clarification @Leo