Microsoft counters Slack with a free version of Teams

[Shawn Knight]

What just happened? Microsoft has gone on the offensive by offering a complementary version of Teams. How long will it take for Slack to sweeten its free tier? Not long, we suspect.

Microsoft introduced Teams in late 2016 as an alternative to Slack, the popular team collaboration tool. Since that time, Teams has been adopted by more than 200,000 businesses around the globe but hasn’t appealed to small outfits and freelancers due to a lack of a free version. Today, that changes.

On Thursday, Microsoft launched a free version of Teams worldwide across 40 languages. It supports up to 300 users and offers unlimited app integrations and search, features you won’t find in the free version of Slack.

The free version of Teams also includes unlimited chat messages, built-in audio and video calling for individuals and groups as well as 10GB of team file storage plus 2GB of personal storage per user. Microsoft’s offering additionally boasts guest access.

By comparison, the free version of Slack is limited to 10 app integrations, 5GB of file storage and doesn’t permit guest access.

There will still be incentive for some users and businesses to pony up for the paid version of Teams. It’s the way to go if you want full integration with Office apps like Word and Excel, need more storage or require other Microsoft services like SharePoint, OneDrive or Yammer. Pricing starts at $5 per month.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/75487-microsoft-counters-slack-free-version-teams.html

 

[Slappy McPhee]

What I find hilarious is that not only does MS have their Teams app, but now Cisco does as well!

 

[Mister_K]

What are people thoughts of Teams and the whole EcoSystem for productive environments with Sharepoint etc? Am I the only hater?

 

[onestepforward]

I am looking-forward to the EU and similar groups slapping MS with massive fines for inappropriately using their unfair advantage.

 

[onestepforward]

What are people thoughts of Teams and the whole EcoSystem for productive environments with Sharepoint etc? Am I the only hater?

I recently started a new job after which I was given an SP3 and Android phone and I am now required to work in the MS eco-system. So, no, you are not the only hater! Is in an awful, soul-destroying experience to work with MS products, both hardware and software.

 

[Knot Schure]

I have to ask... what would be the privacy implications using this?

I'm referring t NSA / law enforcement, and other governments specifically.

I wouldn't like to start depending on it, and have Windows 10 style of key logging, etc.