Chasing Slack and cloud sales, Microsoft’s Teams targets big-Office customers

A view of the Microsoft office entrance in Keilaniemi, Espoo July 16, 2014. REUTERS/Kristiina Lehto/Lehtikuva/Files

Microsoft Corp officially rolled out its Teams workplace-collaboration software, counting on integration with its ubiquitous Office and Outlook programs and partnerships with popular business software makers such as SAP to challenge Slack Technologies Inc for big corporate customers. 

Teams, in preview mode since November, is now widely available in 181 markets, Microsoft said. Already 50,000 Office 365 customers, including Expedia Inc and Alaska Air Group Inc, have started trying it. Expedia has its 300-person information technology group using Teams to chat, share presentations and hold teleconferences.