Microsoft is developing a competitor Slack



    Not so long ago , information appeared on the network that Microsoft was discussing the possibility of acquiring Slack for $ 8 billion. Slack is a corporate messenger that is becoming increasingly popular. Now Microsoft is developing its own corporate messenger, called Skype Teams.

    The new platform is likely to be part of the Skype brand. Skype Teams is positioned as a messenger for teams , and there are quite a few functions similar to those that have long been familiar to Slack users. For example, users of Skype Teams will be able to chat in different groups called “channels”. Direct communication can be carried out using direct messages.

    The fact that Microsoft plans to acquire Slack for $ 8 billion was announced in March this year. But the deal was not completed, as Bill Gates ordered to begin work on improving existing and adding new Skype features. It was on the basis of this VoIP messenger that it was decided to create a new corporate product. Actually, Microsoft already has something to offer corporations: these are Yammer, Skype for Business, Office 365 and OneDrive for Business, as well as some other services and applications. Microsoft does not plan to stop there, preferring to create its own corporate messenger, rather than buying an existing one.

    Skype Teams differs from Slack in a number of functions. For example, there is a function of related conversations (Threaded Conversations). Slack does not have this opportunity, although it would be nice for the developers of this messenger to provide for something similar. Threaded Conversations works simply: any user can reply to a message in the channel by clicking on the reply button. Other users / user can join the conversation - approximately the same as organized in the comments on Facebook and Disqus Comments.

    Pictures for "skype Teams"

    Of course, Microsoft developers plan to use the basic features of Skype in the new messenger. For example, you can call someone directly from the channel or talk privately. Microsoft even provided the opportunity to schedule online meetings, which can be useful for large teams.

    Skype Teams users can share files, recordings and other materials. This, however, does not surprise anyone - in most instant messengers there is something similar. But the creators of Skype Teams improve these basic features in their product. In addition, there is a possibility that Microsoft may allow bots from the Bot Framework for Skype Teams. Plus, the service will be integrated with Office 365 and OneDrive.



    There is also an entertaining component. Microsoft will add the ability to work with emojis, gifs from Giphy, Memes, and more.

    The Skype Teams application will have a taskbar available for quick access to the main functions of the service. Among other elements, there will be sections such as the activity tab with access to the latest notifications, the chat tab, with access to the latest messages and conversations. Also, the user will be able to work with the team tab to switch between different teams and the meetings tab with the ability to create a meeting schedule. The last is the file tab, from where you can access all the files of the Skype Teams and OneDrive applications.

    As far as one can judge, the organization of work in Skype Teams will be similar to the organization of work in Slack. Familiar interface elements, functions, terms - all this involves a painless migration from Slack to Skype Teams. Since the Microsoft platform has a number of features that Slack does not have (the same integration with Office 365), it may well be that some of Slack's current corporate users will decide to start working with the new product.

    Skype Teams will be available for all devices, including desktop PCs and mobile phones. Among the supported mobile OS are Android, iOS and Windows Phone.

    The beta version of the service is already ready and is being tested within the corporation. The release date of Skype Teams is still unknown.



    The Slack corporate messenger was launched in test mode in August 2013. The release took place on February 12, 2014. On the first day of launch, the service received 8 thousand corporate users. Slack now has over 2 million active users, of which 675,000 are those who pay for a number of additional features of this service. According to the company itself, 1.1 million users use Slack daily. At the same time, the Slack developers recently introduced the voice call function, planning to add video calls in the near future. This is the fastest growing business application in history.

    Slack has two paid rates - $ 6.67 (Standard) and $ 12.5 (Plus) per user per month. Payment according to the tariff removes some restrictions (for example, searching the archive for up to 10 thousand messages). Paid users have additional options for managing access rights.

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