The Chat Connector is a ConnecttoTeams service that lets Microsoft Teams users exchange chat messages and share files with users of external chat applications, including Slack, Webex by Cisco, and Zoom. It can be delivered through the Unified Connector App, or as federated chat through the Connect2Teams Chat user — with no app deployed to your Microsoft 365 organization.
ConnecttoTeams offers two ways to connect Microsoft Teams users with users in other platforms like Slack, Zoom, and Webex: the Unified Connector App and federated chat. This article describes the difference so you can decide which to recommend to an enterprise.
Comparing the two options
Unified Connector App | Federated chat | |
|---|---|---|
Enterprise Admin concerns | ||
Services supported | Chat, SMS, and PBX | Chat only |
Teams app deployment required for chat | Yes | No |
Security approvals in the Microsoft organization | More — the app must be approved and deployed to the Microsoft 365 org app catalog | Fewer — no app is deployed to the Microsoft 365 org catalog |
End user experience concerns | ||
Inviting Slack users | Invite a Slack user with a plain-English sentence, no command to remember | Type the command |
File transfer | Full file sharing, including the attach-file (paperclip) option | Inline only — copy and paste a file into the message; the attach-file (paperclip) icon is not available |
AI Messaging Assistant availability in Teams chat | Available — perform actions like asking help instructions, inviting a contact or sending a message using plain, everyday language, no commands to remember | Not available |
When to use federated chat
The enterprise needs chat only with external platforms (Slack, Zoom, Webex).
The enterprise is not using other ConnecttoTeams service such as SMS, PBX, CallApp, and AI Voice Agents.
The enterprise wants to avoid deploying and approving an app in its Microsoft 365 organization catalog.
Basic one-to-one chat is enough — users don't need the AI Messaging Assistant or attach-file transfers (inline copy-paste file sharing is sufficient).
When to use the Unified Connector App
The enterprise also needs other ConnecttoTeams services such as SMS, PBX, CallApp, and AI Voice Agents, now or later.
Users want the AI Messaging Assistant or full file sharing (attach-file).
Important
An enterprise can use only one chat deployment option at a time: either the Unified Connector App or federated chat, not both. It is not recommended to switch between the two options.
Set up instructions for Enterprises
Once the ConnecttoTeams service provider enables the enterprise for the Chat service with the chosen option, follow the matching setup article:
Unified Connector App: see Setting Up Enterprise for Chat with the Unified Connector App.
Federated chat: see Setting Up Enterprise for Federated Chat.