HomeWinBuzzer NewsMicrosoft Teams Gets Third-Party App Support in Meetings

Microsoft Teams Gets Third-Party App Support in Meetings

Microsoft has brought a major change to meetings in Microsoft Teams, allowing third-party app integrations for the first time.

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Since its inception, has rivaled competitors by going like-for-like in terms of features, and even going beyond. We have seen how this worked to help Teams pass Slack, while there is evidence is aiming for the same against Zoom. However, there are some areas where still has the better of Teams.

Microsoft is now addressing one of those areas in its meetings feature. For example, Microsoft Teams does not play nice with third-party apps. In fact, it doesn't play at all as no third-party apps were supported in the Teams meeting experience. Slack as played nicer and in fact has even integrated Teams into its calling platform.

In an interview with The Verge, Microsoft confirmed Teams meetings will now allow third-party app support.

“Applications can span across chat and and easily have a workflow that expands into meetings now,” explains Michal Lesiczka, a group product manager of Microsoft Teams.

Deeper Integration

This is a developer-oriented change that lets applications tap into Microsoft Teams meetings during a meeting, and even before or after. Through the integration, third-party tools will be able to show their content on the Teams call screen. Furthermore, notifications from these apps will also be supported.

For many developers, the lack of this type of third-party integration has kept them away from Teams. Microsoft's Archana Saseetharan, a group product manager for Teams, says it was important the platform allowed this type of integration in meetings. It is worth noting third-party apps are already supported in other areas of Teams.

“We are enabling new APIs and SDK capabilities for developers to integrate and target these new areas. It is the same development process, the same publishing process, the same validation process. Everything is the same, but you have these three new capabilities to go target.”

Microsoft Teams already supports many third party apps in its main client to improve productivity. For instance, project groups can use a Kanban Board App for MS Teams for better organizing tasks, milestones, and project sprints.

Last Updated on August 1, 2023 10:41 am CEST by Markus Kasanmascheff

SourceThe Verge
Luke Jones
Luke Jones
Luke has been writing about all things tech for more than five years. He is following Microsoft closely to bring you the latest news about Windows, Office, Azure, Skype, HoloLens and all the rest of their products.

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