Microsoft Announces Metaverse in Teams for Mixed Reality Collaboration

Microsoft introduced Mesh for Teams at the largest technology conference Ignite 2021. It is a Mesh-based platform that is only integrated into Microsoft Teams. It allows users to render photo-realistic mixed reality images as well as use virtual avatars.

In Mesh for Teams, users can create their own digital avatar in Together Mode and use it during meetings in a virtual environment. At your own discretion, you can choose video avatars, static pictures, or just a field with a name.

The company notes that the Mesh platform can be used in different scenarios, for example, to organize a joint virtual presence in a meeting room, while retaining the ability to chat, exchange documents and work with other necessary Teams tools.

In addition to creating virtual meetings with avatars, companies will be able to create their own immersive spaces – metauniverses, which will allow people from different parts of the world to be in the same environment and interact with each other, while providing all participants with psychological comfort and a sense of cohesion.

Support is promised for a wide range of devices – from smartphones and PCs to mixed reality headsets. Deployment of the solution in the form of a preliminary version is scheduled for the first half of 2022.

There will also be a Presenter View, which will allow one participant to give presentations to others in real time, showing the presenter a sequence of slides and notes.

Microsoft first introduced the Mesh platform in March 2021, where users can interact with content and with each other in the meta-space.