Microsoft is reportedly going one-on-one with Slack...

and the outcome is looking promising for both dedicated Slack and Microsoft users.

With Slack recently announcing the addition of video and voice chat to its team messaging and content management platform, Microsoft appears to already have put in motion the development of a new messaging application, Skype Teams.

Microsoft plans to use the existing features of Skype for Business to provide additional value for large and small teams, newsrooms, and other organizations that need the ability to communicate efficiently and share files. Migrating Slack users will be able to harness the existing powerful features of Skype along with the new channel messaging functionality Skype Teams will offer.

According to MSPowerUser, Skype Teams will include all of the tools Slack users are familiar with, including:

• Dedicated team channels
• Private messaging groups
• Cross channel and private channel file sharing

However, the real value added by Skype Teams is how Microsoft plans to build on top of the existing Skype platform. One of the coolest new potential features is the addition of Threaded Conversations. With the simple click of a “reply” button, Skype Teams users will be able to respond to a conversation. Slack currently does not offer this to its user base.

Users will also be able to start voice and video chats within shared and private channels.

In May, Microsoft released an overhauled, mobile-friendly version of its existing content and document management platform, SharePoint. Microsoft SharePoint offers individuals, teams, and organizations the same content management tools as Slack.

Though Microsoft has not officially announced Skype Teams as part of its Microsoft Office services suite, if rumors are true, the additions to the already widely used Skype will be welcomed by those seeking a more functional group communications platform.

Skype Teams is shaping up to be a messaging app that makes content management and organizational collaboration a more efficient process than competitors offer. And as always, expect seamless integration with other Microsoft Office apps.

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Contact Interlink to learn more about Skype Teams.