Public preview of Microsoft Mesh for Teams coming in October

Microsoft has announced that Microsoft Mesh for Teams will be available as a public preview starting in October 2023. Users will need to have Teams Premium licenses, on top of Microsoft 365 licenses, to use Microsoft Mesh.

Implementation

IT professionals will need to enable Microsoft Mesh in the Microsoft 365 Apps management center as soon as it is available. Mesh allows organizations to create so-called “metaverse” environments for Teams users, enabling meetings in three-dimensional (3D) virtual environments. These environments, called “immersive spaces” by Microsoft, can be created without code using the Mesh Editor feature. Developers can also create immersive spaces with the Mesh Toolkit, which uses the Unity 3D development platform.

Compatibility and Devices

Microsoft Mesh works in two-dimensional form on a PC, but becomes “richer and more immersive” with a virtual reality headset. These immersive spaces will initially be available on PC or Meta Quest VR devices.

Tools and Functionalities

Microsoft provides a set of ready-made immersive spaces that can be customized by adding “images, videos and screen shares in a shared 3D canvas.” The avatars in these spaces can be customized with a downloaded Avatar App and allow 3D interactions. Users can convert their 2D avatars to 3D with “just one click” using the view menu in Teams.

Background and Developments

Microsoft Mesh, based on Azure technologies, was a major highlight at the 2021 Microsoft Ignite event. Despite some setbacks and the abandonment of related projects, Microsoft confirmed in February that it is still committed to HoloLens 2, Microsoft Mesh and its industrial metaverse products.

Conclusion

The arrival of Microsoft Mesh as a public preview brings new capabilities to Teams users, with the creation of immersive 3D environments and interactive features. Despite the challenges, Microsoft continues to invest in this innovative technology.