Unlike Slack, one of the most popular corporate communication methods, Microsoft Teams offers deep integration with the company's proprietary services. For example, participants in the same conversation can edit the same document in Word, Excel or PowerPoint directly in the application.
Also, the messenger users will have the opportunity to conduct audio and video conferences using Skype. At the same time, it does not matter what language the interlocutors speak — the proprietary Microsoft Translator technology with the help of the simultaneous translation function will provide a complete understanding of each other.
As part of the Office 365 suite, Microsoft Teams will be distributed free of charge, subject to an active subscription, regardless of its type. According to official data, the application with support for 18 languages will be immediately available in over 180 countries.
At the moment, the development can only be uploaded by registered participants of the preliminary testing program. A full release is expected in the first quarter of 2017.