14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is developing its very own Slack rival that will be launched as Skype Teams and come with similar features, but also with an additional package that will bring groups and organizations significant benefits.
Screenshots that have been posted online by MSPU show that Skype Teams’ interface resembles the one being used by Slack and offers similar essential features, such as it private messages, but also group conversations, file sharing, and support for emojis and GIFs.
Microsoft, however, is aiming to offer a little bit more than that, so Skype Teams will come with what’s being called “The Fun Picker,” which allows users to select from content such as emoji, GIFs from Giphy, memes, and insert them in conversations.
Cross-platform availability
One special feature that will be available in Skype Teams is called Threaded Conversations and allows users to answer to comments with a system that it is similar to Facebook threads.
App navigation will be possible with a dedicated sidebar that will include shortcuts to the main sections of Skype Teams, among which Activity for the latest notifications, Chat to quickly access your conversations, Teams to jump from one group to another, and Files to see items shared by contacts and in OneDrive.
Microsoft’s upcoming Skype Teams will be available on all devices, so before you ask, yes, there will also be a Windows app, including one for Windows 10 Mobile phones. The service will also be available on the web, but also on iOS and Android with a dedicated app.
There’s still no word on when exactly this new app could launch, but since Microsoft is already testing it internally, it shouldn’t take too long before it sees daylight. The aforementioned source indicated that Office 365 subscribers could be the first to get it while everyone one might get access to Skype Teams at a later time.
