Microsoft said to be readying its Slack competitor for a November beta test
Microsoft may be aiming to deliver a beta version of its Skype Teams service -- its intended Slack competitor -- by November, according to a new report.
Brad Sams of Petri.com provided an update this week from his sources on what's happening with Skype Teams. Sams said Skype Teams has been under development for 18 months and that it's currently in private testing. An expanded beta may be coming in November, with a full release planned for January, Sams said, while noting roadmap "plans could change at any time".
Sams' sources also said Skype Teams will likely be available as part of the various Office 365 business plans, and it will be integrated with other Office 365 services. Given there's also a free tier of Slack, I wonder whether Microsoft may opt for a freemium model, as it has with a number of its existing services, and offer an entry-level free version of Skype Teams with options to upgrade to unlock more features.
