Microsoft primed to take on work chat start-up Slack

Slack responds to launch of 'Microsoft Team' by publishing open letter

Microsoft has followed Facebook's lead and launched a work chat solution to take on Canadian start-up Slack.

Launched by CEO Satya Nadella (pictured) at an event in New York, Microsoft Team will be incorporated into Office 365 and link up with other Microsoft social apps including Skype for Business and Yammer.

"At Microsoft we aim to empower every person and organisation with the technology to be more productive as individuals and in groups," Nadella said.

"Office 365 is the broadest toolkit and platform for creation, communication and collaboration. Microsoft Teams adds a new experience to Office 365 as the chat-based workspace designed to empower the art of teams."

Slack, which earlier this year raised $200m and was valued at $3.8bn, claims on its website to have reached four million daily active users in October this year. In comparison, Microsoft claims that Office 365 has more than 85 million monthly active commercial users.

In response to the announcement, Slack moved to mark its territory by publishing an open letter to Microsoft in the form of an advert in the New York Times, while taking a potshot at Microsoft for launching something it claims is similar to its own solution.

"We realised a few years ago that the value of switching to Slack was so obvious and the advantages so overwhelming that every business would be using Slack, or 'something just like it', within the decade," the letter started.

"It's validating to see you've come around to the same way of thinking. And even though - being honest here - it's a little scary, we know it will bring a better future forward faster.

"However, all this is harder than it looks. So, as you set out to build 'something just like it', we want to give you some friendly advice."

Microsoft Teams is currently available to preview in 181 countries with a launch date penciled in for Q1 2017.

Microsoft isn't the only firm looking to take on Slack, with Facebook launching its Workplace solution to the channel last month.