Federation using the action bar (Confusing)

1. When trying to search for external users and chat (for example someone /chat**@microsoft.com) no one will show up, federation is not possible.

2. The next step is putting the user sipuri in the action bar without /chat and click on 'Search external' it shows up with no results, and you won't be able to federate with this external user.

3. Go back to step 1, and u will be able to chat/federate with this user.

To us it doesn't seem right, and a lot of 'manual' handlings besides just putting the sip uri in the action bar are needed. And also this is very confusing for people who do not know this workaround, creating the assumption federation is not possible.

This issue is not consistant and is not needed with every external user, in my believe /chat followed up with a full sip-uri should also by default look for external federated users. Maybe this is a thing from the past with Skype for business where people would first have to open a chat conversation to see presence & federate.