In a move aimed at enhancing communication across different platforms, Google has announced a significant update to its Chat service. With the introduction of interoperability support, users of Google Chat will now be able to seamlessly exchange messages with their colleagues and coworkers who are using Microsoft Teams or Slack.
This cross-platform messaging feature was initially unveiled by Google at the Cloud Next 2023 event, but it was initially available only as a beta version to a limited number of users. However, with the recent update, all paid subscribers of Google Workspace will have access to this groundbreaking functionality.
It’s important to note that to leverage this interoperability feature, users and organizations will need to employ the Mio app, which serves as the gateway enabling this cross-platform communication. Google has emphasized that this feature will facilitate a more seamless experience for organizations that utilize multiple messaging platforms within their domain.
One of the key advantages of this update is that it allows users to communicate with team members who rely on different messaging apps, without the need for everyone to be on the same platform. This can be particularly beneficial for large organizations where different teams or departments may have adopted different communication tools based on their specific requirements or preferences.
However, it’s worth mentioning that the cross-platform messaging feature is not directly integrated into Google Chat. Instead, users will need to download and install the Mio app to enable this interoperability. This additional step might be seen as a minor inconvenience, but it’s a necessary step to unlock the cross-platform capabilities.
Furthermore, organizations will need to purchase an additional license to access this feature, which could be a potential drawback for some businesses, especially smaller ones. Nevertheless, for larger enterprises that have already invested in multiple communication platforms, this update from Google could prove to be a valuable addition, streamlining communication and fostering better collaboration across teams.
Google has been testing and refining the cross-platform messaging feature between Google Chat, Microsoft Teams, and Slack for over a year, gradually expanding its availability to more users. The recent announcement marks the global rollout of this feature to all paid customers of Google Workspace, reflecting Google’s commitment to enhancing productivity and collaboration tools for businesses of all sizes.
In a related development, Slack has also introduced its artificial intelligence (AI) features to all paid users globally. With this update, users with a paid subscription can now purchase an add-on to activate features such as recaps, search, and conversation summaries. Additionally, Slack plans to introduce a note-taking summary generation feature for its voice and video calling feature, Huddle, further leveraging the power of AI to enhance the overall user experience.
