Google Chat’s latest version now has significantly improved interoperability. The internet-based instant messaging platform now plays nice with rival messaging services such as Slack and Microsoft Teams. However, there could be an additional purchase needed to activate this feature.
Google Chat now accessible and operable inside Slack and Teams
Google has been testing Google Chat interoperability for quite some time. The search giant announced last year it has managed to get Google Chat to work with Microsoft Teams and Slack. However, this was limited to a few Workspace customers through a Beta program.
Google has now confirmed that the latest stable version of Google Chat with enhanced interoperability is ready for all Google Workspace customers. Interoperability promises to unlock Google Chats’ potential as a nearly universal chat client. And given its tight integration with Google Workspace, Google Chat is already available to millions of active users.
#GoogleChat messaging interoperability is here! 🥳 Through #Mio, you can now chat directly with colleagues using platforms like #MicrosoftTeams and #Slack from the Google Chat interface.
Learn more: https://t.co/tPFhFW5pPG pic.twitter.com/A3aW56Pnee
— Gecko Technology Partners (@GeckoTechnology) April 19, 2024
Google Workspace, which includes Gmail, Docs, and other Google products, will now allow users to converse with colleagues and clients on other platforms through the first stable release of Google Chat with interoperability. However, this freedom may come at a cost.
Will users need to purchase a Mio License to unlock interoperability?
Google Chat users who wish to chat with colleagues using Microsoft Teams or Slack will need a license from Mio. In other words, interoperability in Google Chat might not be free.
Mio, a company that offers interoperability solutions for Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, offers a license for its services. The company hasn’t disclosed licensing fees yet. Instead, the company states costs depend on the organization’s size and needs.
Interoperability between Google Chat and other messaging platforms — powered by Mio
☘️ #GoogleChat : https://t.co/JS9bsRatvh
🍁 #Chat in #Gmail : https://t.co/upUqS4imyWhttps://t.co/MLivoSDVC7 pic.twitter.com/cwwVVQHdzG— 📓 Mr. Hieu TK (@hieupgmr202) September 24, 2023
It is not clear how will Mio or Google charge for the interoperability feature within Google Chat. Moreover, Google may not have unlocked the cross-platform compatibility to boost usage.
The European Union (EU), and several other market regulators around the globe, have been pressuring tech giants to open up their walled gardens. Lawmakers have been arm-twisting companies to play nice with their rivals. Regulators claim restricting users to a platform is anti-competition behavior.
Incidentally, creators of other online collaboration platforms too have realized the winds of change. Hence, companies like Microsoft, Slack, Zoom, Cisco, and many others, have reportedly unlocked interoperability in their collaboration platforms, albeit partially. This preemptive move might help them avoid regulator scrutiny.