Articles by Barclay Ballard

Barclay has been writing about technology for a decade, starting out as a freelancer with ITProPortal covering everything from London’s start-up scene to comparisons of the best cloud storage services. After that, he spent some time as the managing editor of an online outlet focusing on cloud computing, furthering his interest in virtualization, Big Data, and the Internet of Things.

The role also allowed him to gain knowledge of SEO and social media hashtags, as well as take part in a press trip or two. A visit to Prague for the Huawei Cloud Congress Europe 2016 was a particular highlight. He eventually returned to freelancing, writing news and feature pieces for TechRadar Pro. Cloud remains a primary interest but he’s also happy covering the hardware and software that powers productivity in workplaces around the world as they attempt to manage the transition to hybrid working.

Articles by: Barclay Ballard

Is Microsoft Teams free or paid? Teams pricing, explained

By Barclay Ballard Published 12 November 21

Make sure you choose a Microsoft Teams pricing plan that is right for your organization - whether free or paid.

Hidden Microsoft Teams features you'll wish you'd known about sooner

By Barclay Ballard Published 12 November 21

A guide to the essential Microsoft Teams features that you may not have been aware of.

The most common Microsoft Teams problems and how to fix them

By Barclay Ballard Published 12 November 21

A guide to the most common Microsoft Teams problems and how you can fix them.

Microsoft Teams vs RingCentral: Which video conferencing and collaboration service is best?

By Barclay Ballard Last updated 9 November 21

Microsoft Teams or RingCentral? Two impressive video conferencing tools go head-to-head.

Verizon VoIP review

By Barclay Ballard Published 9 November 21

The Verizon VoIP solution comes with a big reputation but its customer support could be better.

1-VoIP business VoIP review

By Barclay Ballard Published 9 November 21

1-VoIP offers all the usual VoIP features, plus integration with the third-party anti-spam service Nomorobo.

Microsoft Teams vs Cisco Webex: Which video conferencing and collaboration service is best?

By Barclay Ballard Last updated 2 November 21

Microsoft Teams or Cisco Webex? Two of the most popular video conferencing tools go head-to-head.

Microsoft Teams vs Skype: Which video conferencing and collaboration service is best?

By Barclay Ballard Published 1 November 21

Microsoft Teams or Skype? Two of the most popular video conferencing tools go head-to-head.

How to use Microsoft Teams on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and more

By Barclay Ballard Published 29 October 21

Our guide shows you how to use Microsoft Teams across all the main operating systems.

Microsoft Teams vs Google Meet: Which video conferencing service is best?

By Barclay Ballard Published 29 October 21

Microsoft Teams or Google Meet? We compare two of the collaboration services that have taken off during the pandemic.

Woman on video call wearing bluetooth headset

How to use Microsoft Teams online

By Barclay Ballard Published 27 October 21

Our step-by-step guide gives you everything you need to use Microsoft Teams online.

How to upgrade from Skype for Business to Microsoft Teams

By Barclay Ballard Published 21 October 21

Our guide makes upgrading from Skype for Business to Microsoft Teams simple.

How to set up a Microsoft Teams meeting

By Barclay Ballard Published 21 October 21

Our guide gives you all the steps you need to set up a Microsoft Teams meeting.

How to download Microsoft Teams

By Barclay Ballard Published 19 October 21

Our step-by-step guide demonstrates how to download Microsoft Teams.

Microsoft Teams is getting a simple upgrade that will offer major improvements

By Barclay Ballard Last updated 6 October 21

A new Microsoft Teams update called “Top Hits” coming in March should speed up search process significantly.

Microsoft Teams may be tracking more of your info than you think

By Barclay Ballard Last updated 6 October 21

Concerns grow over how much data Microsoft Teams collects during video calls and whether it is being used for employee surveillance.

Satya Nadella says 2021 will be the year of Microsoft Teams

By Barclay Ballard Last updated 6 October 21

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella outlines vision for turning Teams into a digital platform as significant as the internet browser.

Google Voice review

By Barclay Ballard Published 24 August 21

Google Voice is a decent VoIP option, but probably only a serious consideration for hardcore Workspace users.

Freshcaller review

By Barclay Ballard Published 23 August 21

Boasting a number of impressive features, Freshcaller represents a great VoIP option, particularly for businesses with a call center service.

Yealink SIP T2, 3, 4, 5 series review

By Barclay Ballard Published 18 August 21

Yealink's range of VoIP phones is varied enough to suit a multitude of offices, particularly at such affordable price points.

Phone.com review

By Barclay Ballard Published 13 August 21

Phone.com delivers a good quality VoIP service, but prices can stack up if more advanced features are required.

Microsoft 365 Business Voice review

By Barclay Ballard Published 12 August 21

Updated It may not have as many features as we'd like, but Microsoft 365 Business Voice is still a cost-effective and integrated with Teams.

AT&T Business review

By Barclay Ballard Published 11 August 21

AT&T Business delivers a wide range of VoIP solutions, but it's not easy to find out pricing details.

GoDaddy SmartLine review

By Gabe Carey, Barclay Ballard Published 6 August 21

Although it’s not a true VoIP provider, SmartLine graces your existing phone with a second number so you don’t have to buy a second device.

Mitel MiVoice Series review

By Barclay Ballard Published 4 August 21

Mitel makes some impressive-looking phones that are, unfortunately, let down by disappointing customer support.

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Barclay Ballard

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