Google Chat Now Compatible with Slack and Microsoft Teams Messaging

Google has been enhancing its Workspace apps by introducing new features. Following the introduction of Duet AI capabilities across various apps like Gmail, Docs, Slides, and Drive, as well as the revamped home screen for Google Chat, the company’s own chat messenger is receiving another significant upgrade. Through Mio, a cross-platform collaboration tool, Google Chat will now provide messaging interoperability with other platforms such as Slack and Microsoft Teams.

Google recently announced the new feature in a blog post stating, “If your organization uses a variety of communication tools, you can now use Mio to enable messaging interoperability between Google Chat and other platforms like Slack and Teams.” This feature is currently in beta testing. The feature is expected to arrive in 2024.

Google Chat is getting an interoperability feature

According to the blog post, using this feature is pretty easy since most of the heavy lifting is done by Mio. Users can connect Google Chat with other communication tools used in the organization and receive all messages from one platform and reply to them from one window.

A blog post explained the reason for adding this feature: “We know that communication and collaboration happen across multiple channels and tools. This can lead to missed messages, communication silos, and the frustrating experience of tracking multiple chat tools.

This feature is available to Google Workspace Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Essentials Starter, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Essentials Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Frontline Starter, Frontline Standard and Nonprofits customers .

Google Chat is also getting a voice messaging feature

In addition, Google Chat has added the native feature of voice messages. The platform calls it Voice Snippets, and it’s described as a feature that can “save typing and allow recipients to hear the tone and context of a message.” According to a report by 9to5Google, this feature will be available in the first quarter of 2024. Its purpose is to enhance the team collaboration of Workspace users. It is not clear if the feature is available only in group messages or also in individual chat windows.