Slack is launching a new app to integrate calls with Microsoft Teams, Zoom and other providers directly into its chat app.
Starting today, you will be able to place Microsoft Teams calls directly from within your Slack chats. The rollout is part of the launch of the Microsoft Teams Calls beta app.
For now, the app will only allow Slack users to launch Teams calls from Slack rather than participate in them directly within Slack, but the company is already working on further integration.
Slack users will be able to set Microsoft Teams Calls as the default calling provider and get to see who’s already on a call and when it kicked off before joining a meeting. Event reminders from the Outlook Slack app will also support the ability to join Microsoft Teams calls direct from Slack.
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Slack is also launching VoIP phone integration with Zoom, WebEx, Jabber, RingCentral, and Dialpad, allowing users to use these VoIP calling providers to call phone numbers directly from within the Slack app.
Like all apps dedicated to remote working, Slack has seen significant usage growth over the past few weeks, with a new user record as demand surged for its chat app in March.
The Microsoft Teams app will need to be enabled from the Slack website. All other calling features will be available directly from the app, starting today.