Microsoft Mesh for Teams Launching in Public Preview Next Month

Key takeaways:

• Microsoft Mesh integration is arriving in public preview for Teams meetings in October.
• Users can expect innovative features like customizable avatars, 3D meeting environments, spatial audio, interactive games, and live reactions to enhance virtual interactions.
• Microsoft Mesh in Teams will be accessible across various enterprise subscriptions, including Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Microsoft 365 E3/E5, Office 365 E1/E3/E5, as well as Microsoft Teams Essentials.

Microsoft Mesh integration in Teams is set to launch in public preview in October. The upcoming release should bring a wave of fresh meeting experiences to Microsoft Teams users, including avatars, 3D meeting environments, spatial audio and audio zones, interactive games, and live reactions.

Microsoft Mesh is a new mixed-reality platform that was announced back in 2021. It’s a collaboration service that lets people in different physical locations share holographic experiences together. Microsoft Mesh has been available in public in private preview since May 2023, and the company has been encouraging developers to build custom immersive virtual experiences that bring together hybrid and remote workers. It can be accessed through a PC or virtual reality (VR) headset.

“Microsoft Mesh is not merely another innovation, but a solution that enables your distributed workforce to connect like never before in a 3D immersive space, helping virtual meetings and events feel more like face-to-face connections,” said Nicole Herskowitz, Vice President for Microsoft Teams.

Key capabilities included in Microsoft Mesh for Teams

Microsoft highlighted that the new Mesh integration brings several new capabilities for Microsoft Teams users. Microsoft Teams will allow users to create 3D avatars to connect with the audience without turning on their video feeds. It will also be possible to customize the avatars to reflect the participant’s mood, appearance, and style.

Microsoft Mesh for Teams will enable organizations to create 3D environments for virtual meetings. These environments let users connect with other meeting participants through an immersive experience that imitates real-life meetings. These immersive spaces can be created without code via the Mesh Editor function.

The spatial audio and audio zones allow attendees to have simultaneous conversations without talking over each other. Other capabilities include built-in interactive games and support for live reactions such as a thumbs up, clap, and hearts.

Microsoft notes that IT admins will need to head over to the Teams Admin Center to enable Microsoft Mesh experiences in their organizations. The feature will be available for various enterprise subscriptions, including Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Microsoft 365 E3/E5, Office 365 E1/E3/E5, as well as Microsoft Teams Essentials.