• Last year Microsoft Mesh was revealed as the company’s dedicated virtual meeting platform available via Teams.
• After testing it out in a handful of customer environments, Microsoft Mesh is available to those with a Microsoft account subscription and based on per user billing.
• Access to the platform is limited to desktop PCs and Meta Quest headsets for now.

Big tech’s desire to get workforces engaged with metaverse-eque virtual meeting environments has once again picked up steam. Having revealed its Microsoft Mesh platform via Teams last year, and tested it out with a handful of customers in their work environments, now it is ready for the world.

To that end, Microsoft Mesh has been launched in selected regions, and to those who have a business or enterprise account with the company.

It is also worth pointing out that at the time of writing, Microsoft Mesh is limited to use on desktop PCs and Meta Quest VR headsets, such as the Quest 3 that debuted at the middle of 2023.

The company explains that Mesh is designed with hybrid workforces in mind, noting that it, “powers 3D immersive experiences using next-generation technology that help virtual connections feel more like face-to-face interactions.”

To date, some of the companies that have been trialling Mesh include Takeda, Accenture, BP, and Mercy Ships.

“Lunchtime conversations, hallway catch-ups, coffee chats—they often hold the key to both workplace success and employee happiness. Mesh for Teams has proven a game-changer for us; our hybrid meetings are more collaborative and immersive, and also a lot more fun. We are a people-first organization, and we want every employee to feel a true sense of belonging and togetherness—from day one, wherever they are in the world. Mesh is helping us achieve that,” according to Leo Barella, Takeda’s CTO.

Whether it will indeed be the game changing virtual meeting platform that Microsoft hopes it will be remains unclear, but to accompany the launch of Mesh, a series of customisation tools have been added to the mix. As such, companies will be able to create visual elements like banners featuring your logo, videos, product showcases, content presentations, and more without needing to plug in any code.

It therefore looks like Mesh has applications outside of simply having meetings.

“Take it a step further and harness the power of Unity with the Mesh toolkit to create your own custom interactive experiences, including venues for all hands meetings, onboarding, simulations, or training,” Microsoft continued.

“To date, Accenture has welcomed more than 300,000 new hires from around the world at One Accenture Park, a virtual campus created in Microsoft Mesh. Each new-hire cohort is invited to ride the virtual monorail to different educational exhibits, expert talks in auditoriums, and events in gathering spaces to meet their colleagues and learn about key skills to be successful in their new roles,” the company added.