With Mio’s latest direct messaging feature, you can now send direct messages between Slack and Microsoft Teams.
Mio has been working on messaging interoperability for several years now. We believe cross-platform direct messaging has the potential to fundamentally change how companies collaborate with each other.
The state of business messaging in 2021
It wasn’t too long ago that AT&T users could only send SMS text messages to other AT&T users and Verizon users could only send SMS text messages to Verizon users.
Back in the late ’90s, American Idol used to display one phone number for AT&T users and a separate phone number for Verizon users.
One day, we will think it equally bizarre that Slack users could only send direct messages to other Slack users, and Microsoft Teams users could only chat with other Microsoft Teams users.
The good news is that the API-zation of the world is bringing down the walls in intercompany communication.
By stitching together the Microsoft and Slack APIs, third-party vendors like Mio can allow for seamless interoperability between the two team collaboration apps.
How Mio enables direct messaging between Slack and Microsoft Teams
Think of Slack as the “local area network”.
Slack will always deliver messages between Slack users. Similarly, Microsoft will deliver messages between Teams users across its own LAN.
In this analogy, Mio is akin to the “wide area network” for workplace communication.
For the past several months, large enterprise customers like Under Armour, Keurig, and AMC Theatres have been using Mio for cross-platform messaging in what we call universal channels.
These are like Slack’s shared channels, but with one key difference: they are cross-platform.
Mio is extending our cross-platform messaging solution to include direct messaging as well.
You can now use Mio to chat 1:1 with your colleagues and external business contacts even if they aren’t using the same messaging app as you.
This is one more step towards our vision for a unified workplace communication network.
We believe everyone should be able to easily communicate with their work colleagues, regardless of which app they happen to be using.
Direct messaging between Slack and Microsoft Teams is now available.
Please visit www.m.io to install the Mio app and get started.
How to direct message an external contact from Microsoft Teams
Mila who uses Microsoft Teams is in a universal channel with Sammy who uses Slack. They have already invited each other to chat in a direct message.
All Mila has to do is search for Sammy’s name within Microsoft Teams to begin direct messaging.
The experience is native and seamless, as if Sammy were an actual Teams user.
Check out this article for a detailed explanation on how to invite external contacts to a direct message in Microsoft Teams.
How to direct message an external contact from Slack
Sammy who uses Slack is in a universal channel with Mila who uses Microsoft Teams. They have already invited each other to chat in a direct message.
All Sammy has to do is search for Mila’s name within Slack to begin direct messaging.
The experience is native and seamless, as if Mila were an actual Slack user.
Check out this article for a detailed explanation on how to invite external contacts to a direct message in Slack.
