Microsoft Teams just stole this big feature from Slack

Microsoft Teams merely stole this large feature from Slack

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Microsoft Teams might exist i of the best virtual workspaces, but the service has lacked a fundamental messaging feature constitute on popular competitors like Slack — until now.

Co-ordinate to the Microsoft 365 roadmap, Teams users will soon be able to respond to specific letters in a thread-like way. When users reply to a bulletin, maybe one higher upwardly in a big group chat, the original message will exist quoted to provide context.

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This version of the feature a bit different from Slack's, which attaches threads straight to a certain bulletin and keeps conversations organized without calculation to the conversation'southward principal view.

The 'Answer to a specific message' feature in Microsoft Teams volition await more like it does in several of the all-time chat apps like iMessage and Discord. This way, fifty-fifty when the main topic of conversation has changed, users tin can refer back to an earlier bulletin if needed.

Hither's Microsoft's full description of the impending update:

When chatting in Teams, yous volition exist able to reply a specific message. The original bulletin will be quoted in the reply text box, helping everyone in the conversation to more than easily empathise the bulletin's context. Quoted replies volition be available in one:1, Grouping and Meeting chats.

Slack'southward approach to direct replies feels more conducive to professional communication, which Teams is frequently used for, but Microsoft's version is nonetheless a welcome upgrade. Information technology should help group chat members continue relevant conversations, even in busiest of Teams rooms.

One-on-ane conversations, group chats and video meeting text chats volition all support the new feature, which is set to launch next month.

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Kate Kozuch is a senior writer at Tom'southward Guide covering wearables, TVs and everything smart-domicile related. When she'due south not in cyborg mode, you can find her on an exercise wheel or channeling her inner celebrity chef. She and her robot army volition rule the earth one solar day, simply until then, reach her at kate.kozuch@futurenet.com.