Microsoft's Kaizala communications app expanding worldwide for Office 365 commercial plans

By Dan Thorp-Lancaster
published

Office 365 commercial users will get access to Kaizala Pro as part of their plans.

Microsoft Kaizala, a group communications app that got its start as a Microsoft Garage project in India, is preparing to go worldwide for Office 365 commercial plan users. In a blog post (opens in new tab) (via ZDNet, Microsoft said it is adding Kaizala Pro to Office 365 commercial plans "over time" worldwide.

Kaizala operates as a mobile communications app for teams, allowing group chats in a layout similar to WhatsApp. Available for Android (opens in new tab) and iOS (opens in new tab), Kaizala is positioned primarily toward mobile, firstline workers. Microsoft explains:

Microsoft Kaizala makes it easy to connect and coordinate with your Firstline workers – wherever they are – using a simple-to-use chat interface. Efficiently manage work or collect data from individuals or large groups, even if they're not in your organization. View built-in reports to get insights for faster decision making.

Kaizala Pro is already available in 28 markets as part of Office 365 commercial plans or as a standalone purchase. You can view the full lineup of current markets at Microsoft (opens in new tab). Over time, Kaizala will roll out to Office 365 commercial plans worldwide.

Dan Thorp-Lancaster
Dan Thorp-Lancaster

Dan Thorp-Lancaster is the former Editor-in-Chief of Windows Central. He began working with Windows Central, Android Central, and iMore as a news writer in 2014 and is obsessed with tech of all sorts. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DthorpL and Instagram @heyitsdtl. 

9 Comments
  • I don't get why this is yet a new app? Why isn't it integrated into Teams, which is supposed to be the future place for collaboration in Office 365?
  • Yeah, I don't get why this app is not called Skype, or why there are so many Skype developments in progress in parallel to this.
  • Just another app cannibalizing on their own premium apps. More proliferation of functionality over disparate apps is not exactly what I would call a "seamless user experience".
  • Hmm... Teams?
  • Great, ANOTHER disjointed app to support in the Enterprise along with Lync\Skype, Teams, O365, Sway, Delve, Yammer, etc. and people wonder why we don't ever get any work done with all the ways others can interrupt us......
  • Exactly. Though you forgot Staff Hub.
  • As of next year Staff Hub won't exist as it's functionality is being integrated into Teams, makes sense IMHO. Staff Hub is for managing staff working hours/rota and is not really going to interrupt your work.
  • Doesn't like 95%+ of this exist in teams? And teams has a mobile and desktop experience. I don't get it.
  • Freedom to teams. I heard MS don't really intervene with teams' decisions. That's why we have soo many similar todos and messengers (xbox team has one then there's skype and others)