As companies and employees settle into new work norms post-pandemic, we're witnessing a once-in-a-lifetime shift in work patterns.
Over the past two-and-a-half years, new patterns have emerged that center around people, communications, and workflows. During this time, Microsoft Teams has grown to 270 million monthly active users, solidifying its position as the most useful platform for workplace collaboration and business processes.
People increasingly seek deeper, more immersive ways to collaborate and co-create from anywhere. We believe that in the near future, the metaverse will play a pivotal role in providing these new modes of connection. Microsoft's Work Trend Index data shows that 50% of Gen Z and millennials envision doing some of their work in the metaverse within the next two years.
As a platform company, Microsoft's goal is to ensure that the software experiences they deliver, including immersive spaces and virtual meetings, enhance productivity and collaboration across all users' favourite devices.
In line with this vision, they are excited to announce new partnerships with Meta to offer customers more choices and security as they explore the metaverse.
What is Microsoft mesh?
Microsoft Mesh is a mixed reality platform that allows people in different physical locations to collaborate and interact in a shared virtual environment. Powered by Microsoft’s Azure cloud infrastructure, Mesh creates immersive experiences by blending the real world with digital content in a way that feels natural and intuitive.
Microsoft are excited to introduce Mesh for Microsoft Teams on Meta Quest devices. This integration builds on years of technological innovation, including Azure Digital Twins, Dynamics 365 Remote Assist, and Teams video meetings. Mesh for Teams is designed to bring colleagues together virtually in the environments where work happens, whether on smartphones, laptops, or mixed reality headsets. With Meta Quest Pro and Meta Quest 2 + 3 devices, Mesh for Teams will enable users to connect and collaborate as if they were in the same room.
Mesh also empowers businesses to create custom experiences through the Mesh toolkit, allowing for the development of compelling 3D environments that enhance hybrid meetings and collaboration. The partnership between Meta and Microsoft underscores our commitment to evolving work patterns by providing flexible, immersive, and secure solutions that elevate the way we connect and work in the digital age.
Additionally, Microsoft 365 apps will soon be available on Meta Quest devices, allowing users to interact with their favourite productivity tools like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and SharePoint within a virtual reality environment. This integration enhances the Meta for Business initiative by enabling users to work seamlessly in VR, delivering compelling 3D experiences that make collaboration and productivity more immersive.
Looking ahead, Windows 365 will also be accessible on Meta Quest devices, enabling users to stream a Windows Cloud PC, complete with personalised apps, content, and settings. This further expands the capabilities of Meta and Microsoft Mesh, offering organisations the flexibility to blend physical and digital workspaces. Combined with Quest hardware and the Teams feature set, these advancements allow organisations to redefine how they view and engage with work, making hybrid meetings and collaboration more effective and immersive than ever before.
Microsoft Intune and Azure Active Directory will now support Meta Quest Pro and Meta Quest 2, allowing IT administrators to provision these devices for users with a Quest for Business subscription from Meta. This ensures that the security and management features organisations expect from PCs and mobile devices are seamlessly extended to VR, reinforcing the reliability and confidence necessary for enterprise use.
In addition, Microsoft and Meta are exploring ways to bring Xbox Cloud Gaming to the Meta Quest Store, enabling gamers to stream hundreds of high-quality Xbox games across phones, tablets, PCs, select smart TVs, and the Meta Quest platform.
This collaboration enhances our Meta and Microsoft Mesh initiatives by integrating the Meta for Work ecosystem with robust Mesh environments that prioritise security, compliance, and enterprise-grade experiences. It complements our ongoing commitment to HoloLens, as we continue to evolve our mixed-reality devices roadmap. Our new Mesh release reflects our cloud-first approach, with Windows and Microsoft 365 leading the charge. Together, these advancements lay the groundwork for a responsible metaverse, unlocking new possibilities for the future of work.
