Slack is starting to launch a new feature that allows anyone using the service to DM each other. Announced in October, Slack Connect DMs will allow Slack users to send private messages to employees outside their company. It is designed for companies that work with partners or customers, but you can even use it to send messages to friends at other companies.
This new DM feature is based on Slack’s work with Connect, which started appearing last year. Slack Connect was designed primarily to allow companies to collaborate with each other through shared channels, and cross-organization DMs are the next big part of Connect. DMs work by sending a special link to start a conversation and may require approval from the Slack administrator, depending on how your organization has set up Slack.
Paid Slack users will be able to access Slack Connect DMs today, and the company says it plans to implement this for all teams, including free users, soon. Slack is also working on a new way to connect multiple organizations to create a private business network. This feature will be launched later this year and will include unified directories, channel discovery and shared applications.