diff --git a/addons/im_livechat/static/src/components/discuss_sidebar/discuss_sidebar.xml b/addons/im_livechat/static/src/components/discuss_sidebar/discuss_sidebar.xml
index 9dee8b5aca7..7a2e00d50f1 100644
--- a/addons/im_livechat/static/src/components/discuss_sidebar/discuss_sidebar.xml
+++ b/addons/im_livechat/static/src/components/discuss_sidebar/discuss_sidebar.xml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 <templates xml:space="preserve">
     <t t-inherit="mail.DiscussSidebar" t-inherit-mode="extension">
         <xpath expr="//*[@name='beforeCategoryChat']" position="before">
-            <t t-set="categoryLivechat" t-value="messaging.discuss.categoryLivechat"/>
+            <t t-set="categoryLivechat" t-value="discussView.discuss.categoryLivechat"/>
             <t t-if="categoryLivechat and categoryLivechat.categoryItems.length">
                 <DiscussSidebarCategory
                     className="'o_DiscussSidebar_category o_DiscussSidebar_categoryLivechat'"
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/components/chat_window_manager/tests/chat_window_manager_tests.js b/addons/mail/static/src/components/chat_window_manager/tests/chat_window_manager_tests.js
index 496a7b502c1..65a0d303d88 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/components/chat_window_manager/tests/chat_window_manager_tests.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/components/chat_window_manager/tests/chat_window_manager_tests.js
@@ -977,10 +977,10 @@ QUnit.test('chat window: composer state conservation on toggle discuss', async f
         "composer should have 2 total attachments after adding 2 attachments"
     );
 
-    await afterNextRender(() => this.messaging.discuss.update({ isOpen: true }));
+    await afterNextRender(() => this.messaging.discuss.open());
     assert.containsNone(document.body, '.o_ChatWindow', "should not have any chat window after opening discuss");
 
-    await afterNextRender(() => this.messaging.discuss.update({ isOpen: false }));
+    await afterNextRender(() => this.messaging.discuss.close());
     assert.strictEqual(
         document.querySelector(`.o_ComposerTextInput_textarea`).value,
         "XDU for the win !",
@@ -1039,12 +1039,12 @@ QUnit.test('chat window: scroll conservation on toggle discuss', async function
         },
     });
 
-    await afterNextRender(() => this.messaging.discuss.update({ isOpen: true }));
+    await afterNextRender(() => this.messaging.discuss.open());
     assert.containsNone(document.body, '.o_ChatWindow', "should not have any chat window after opening discuss");
 
     await this.afterEvent({
         eventName: 'o-component-message-list-scrolled',
-        func: () => this.messaging.discuss.update({ isOpen: false }),
+        func: () => this.messaging.discuss.close(),
         message: "should wait until channel 20 restored its scroll to 142 after closing discuss",
         predicate: ({ scrollTop, thread }) => {
             return (
@@ -1968,10 +1968,10 @@ QUnit.test('chat window with a thread: keep scroll position in message list on t
     });
     // fold chat window
     await afterNextRender(() => document.querySelector('.o_ChatWindow_header').click());
-    await afterNextRender(() => this.messaging.discuss.update({ isOpen: true }));
+    await afterNextRender(() => this.messaging.discuss.open());
     assert.containsNone(document.body, '.o_ChatWindow', "should not have any chat window after opening discuss");
 
-    await afterNextRender(() => this.messaging.discuss.update({ isOpen: false }));
+    await afterNextRender(() => this.messaging.discuss.close());
     // unfold chat window
     await this.afterEvent({
         eventName: 'o-component-message-list-scrolled',
@@ -2039,10 +2039,10 @@ QUnit.test('chat window with a thread: keep scroll position in message list on t
     });
     // fold chat window
     await afterNextRender(() => document.querySelector('.o_ChatWindow_header').click());
-    await afterNextRender(() => this.messaging.discuss.update({ isOpen: true }));
+    await afterNextRender(() => this.messaging.discuss.open());
     assert.containsNone(document.body, '.o_ChatWindow', "should not have any chat window after opening discuss");
 
-    await afterNextRender(() => this.messaging.discuss.update({ isOpen: false }));
+    await afterNextRender(() => this.messaging.discuss.close());
     // unfold chat window
     await this.afterEvent({
         eventName: 'o-component-message-list-scrolled',
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/components/discuss/discuss.js b/addons/mail/static/src/components/discuss/discuss.js
index 1b5c70d527a..0c573f0d304 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/components/discuss/discuss.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/components/discuss/discuss.js
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 /** @odoo-module **/
 
-import { registerMessagingComponent } from '@mail/utils/messaging_component';
 import { useUpdate } from '@mail/component_hooks/use_update/use_update';
+import { registerMessagingComponent } from '@mail/utils/messaging_component';
 
-const { Component, onWillUnmount } = owl;
+const { Component } = owl;
 
 export class Discuss extends Component {
 
@@ -17,39 +17,31 @@ export class Discuss extends Component {
         this._onMobileAddItemHeaderInputSelect = this._onMobileAddItemHeaderInputSelect.bind(this);
         this._onMobileAddItemHeaderInputSource = this._onMobileAddItemHeaderInputSource.bind(this);
         useUpdate({ func: () => this._update() });
-        onWillUnmount(() => this._willUnmount());
         this._onHideMobileAddItemHeader = this._onHideMobileAddItemHeader.bind(this);
     }
 
     _update() {
-        if (!this.discuss) {
+        if (!this.discussView) {
             return;
         }
-        this.discuss.update({ isOpen: true });
-        if (this.discuss.thread) {
+        if (this.discussView.discuss.thread) {
             this.trigger('o-push-state-action-manager');
-        } else if (!this._activeThreadCache && this.discuss.messaging.isInitialized) {
-            this.discuss.openInitThread();
+        } else if (!this._activeThreadCache) {
+            this.discussView.discuss.openInitThread();
         }
         if (
-            this.discuss.thread &&
-            this.discuss.thread === this.messaging.inbox &&
-            this.discuss.threadView &&
-            this._lastThreadCache === this.discuss.threadView.threadCache.localId &&
-            this._lastThreadCounter > 0 && this.discuss.thread.counter === 0
+            this.discussView.discuss.thread &&
+            this.discussView.discuss.thread === this.messaging.inbox &&
+            this.discussView.discuss.threadView &&
+            this._lastThreadCache === this.discussView.discuss.threadView.threadCache.localId &&
+            this._lastThreadCounter > 0 && this.discussView.discuss.thread.counter === 0
         ) {
             this.trigger('o-show-rainbow-man');
         }
-        this._activeThreadCache = this.discuss.threadView && this.discuss.threadView.threadCache;
+        this._activeThreadCache = this.discussView.discuss.threadView && this.discussView.discuss.threadView.threadCache;
         this._updateLocalStoreProps();
     }
 
-    _willUnmount() {
-        if (this.discuss) {
-            this.discuss.close();
-        }
-    }
-
     //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
     // Public
     //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -69,10 +61,10 @@ export class Discuss extends Component {
     }
 
     /**
-     * @returns {Discuss}
+     * @returns {DiscussView}
      */
-    get discuss() {
-        return this.messaging && this.messaging.discuss;
+    get discussView() {
+        return this.messaging && this.messaging.models['DiscussView'].get(this.props.localId);
     }
 
     //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -83,7 +75,7 @@ export class Discuss extends Component {
      * @private
      */
     _updateLocalStoreProps() {
-        if (!this.discuss) {
+        if (!this.discussView) {
             return;
         }
         /**
@@ -92,17 +84,17 @@ export class Discuss extends Component {
          * rainbox man on inbox.
          */
         this._lastThreadCache = (
-            this.discuss.threadView &&
-            this.discuss.threadView.threadCache &&
-            this.discuss.threadView.threadCache.localId
+            this.discussView.discuss.threadView &&
+            this.discussView.discuss.threadView.threadCache &&
+            this.discussView.discuss.threadView.threadCache.localId
         );
         /**
          * Locally tracked store props `threadCounter`.
          * Useful to display the rainbow man on inbox.
          */
         this._lastThreadCounter = (
-            this.discuss.thread &&
-            this.discuss.thread.counter
+            this.discussView.discuss.thread &&
+            this.discussView.discuss.thread.counter
         );
     }
 
@@ -114,7 +106,10 @@ export class Discuss extends Component {
      * @private
      */
     _onHideMobileAddItemHeader() {
-        this.discuss.clearIsAddingItem();
+        if (!this.discussView) {
+            return;
+        }
+        this.discussView.discuss.clearIsAddingItem();
     }
 
     /**
@@ -125,7 +120,10 @@ export class Discuss extends Component {
      * @param {integer} ui.item.id
      */
     _onMobileAddItemHeaderInputSelect(ev, ui) {
-        const discuss = this.discuss;
+        if (!this.discussView) {
+            return;
+        }
+        const discuss = this.discussView.discuss;
         if (discuss.isAddingChannel) {
             discuss.handleAddChannelAutocompleteSelect(ev, ui);
         } else {
@@ -140,17 +138,20 @@ export class Discuss extends Component {
      * @param {function} res
      */
     _onMobileAddItemHeaderInputSource(req, res) {
-        if (this.discuss.isAddingChannel) {
-            this.discuss.handleAddChannelAutocompleteSource(req, res);
+        if (!this.discussView) {
+            return;
+        }
+        if (this.discussView.discuss.isAddingChannel) {
+            this.discussView.discuss.handleAddChannelAutocompleteSource(req, res);
         } else {
-            this.discuss.handleAddChatAutocompleteSource(req, res);
+            this.discussView.discuss.handleAddChatAutocompleteSource(req, res);
         }
     }
 
 }
 
 Object.assign(Discuss, {
-    props: {},
+    props: { localId: String },
     template: 'mail.Discuss',
 });
 
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/components/discuss/discuss.scss b/addons/mail/static/src/components/discuss/discuss.scss
index 198d662080d..a8d1e9bfb40 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/components/discuss/discuss.scss
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/components/discuss/discuss.scss
@@ -30,17 +30,6 @@
     flex-flow: column;
 }
 
-.o_Discuss_messagingNotInitialized {
-    flex: 1 1 auto;
-    display: flex;
-    align-items: center;
-    justify-content: center;
-}
-
-.o_Discuss_messagingNotInitializedIcon {
-    margin-right: map-get($spacers, 1);
-}
-
 .o_Discuss_mobileAddItemHeader {
     display: flex;
     justify-content: center;
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/components/discuss/discuss.xml b/addons/mail/static/src/components/discuss/discuss.xml
index 6556e7444d3..8f08d63f083 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/components/discuss/discuss.xml
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/components/discuss/discuss.xml
@@ -4,17 +4,14 @@
     <t t-name="mail.Discuss" owl="1">
         <div class="o_Discuss" t-attf-class="{{ className }}"
             t-att-class="{
-                'o-adding-item': discuss ? discuss.isAddingChannel or discuss.isAddingChat : false,
+                'o-adding-item': discussView ? discussView.discuss.isAddingChannel or discussView.discuss.isAddingChat : false,
                 'o-mobile': messaging ? messaging.device.isMobile : false,
             }"
             t-ref="root"
         >
-            <t t-if="!discuss or !messaging.isInitialized">
-                <div class="o_Discuss_messagingNotInitialized"><i class="o_Discuss_messagingNotInitializedIcon fa fa-circle-o-notch fa-spin"/>Please wait...</div>
-            </t>
-            <t t-else="">
+            <t t-if="discussView">
                 <t t-if="!messaging.device.isMobile">
-                    <DiscussSidebar className="'o_Discuss_sidebar bg-light border-right'" localId="discuss.localId"/>
+                    <DiscussSidebar className="'o_Discuss_sidebar bg-light border-right'" localId="discussView.localId"/>
                 </t>
                 <t t-if="messaging.device.isMobile" t-call="mail.Discuss.content"/>
                 <t t-else="">
@@ -27,58 +24,58 @@
     </t>
 
     <t t-name="mail.Discuss.content" owl="1">
-        <t t-if="messaging.device.isMobile and discuss.activeMobileNavbarTabId === 'mailbox'">
+        <t t-if="messaging.device.isMobile and discussView.discuss.activeMobileNavbarTabId === 'mailbox'">
             <DiscussMobileMailboxSelection className="'o_Discuss_mobileMailboxSelection border-bottom'"/>
         </t>
-        <t t-if="messaging.device.isMobile and (discuss.isAddingChannel or discuss.isAddingChat)">
+        <t t-if="messaging.device.isMobile and (discussView.discuss.isAddingChannel or discussView.discuss.isAddingChat)">
             <div class="o_Discuss_mobileAddItemHeader border-bottom">
                 <AutocompleteInput
                     className="'o_Discuss_mobileAddItemHeaderInput'"
                     isFocusOnMount="true"
-                    isHtml="discuss.isAddingChannel"
-                    placeholder="discuss.isAddingChannel ? addChannelInputPlaceholder : addChatInputPlaceholder"
+                    isHtml="discussView.discuss.isAddingChannel"
+                    placeholder="discussView.discuss.isAddingChannel ? addChannelInputPlaceholder : addChatInputPlaceholder"
                     select="_onMobileAddItemHeaderInputSelect"
                     source="_onMobileAddItemHeaderInputSource"
                     onHide="_onHideMobileAddItemHeader"
                 />
             </div>
         </t>
-        <t t-if="discuss.threadView">
+        <t t-if="discussView.discuss.threadView">
             <t name="beforeThread"/>
             <ThreadView
                 className="'o_Discuss_thread'"
                 t-att-class="{ 'o-mobile': messaging.device.isMobile }"
                 hasComposerCurrentPartnerAvatar="!messaging.device.isMobile"
-                hasComposerDiscardButton="discuss.thread === messaging.inbox"
-                hasComposerThreadName="discuss.thread === messaging.inbox"
+                hasComposerDiscardButton="discussView.discuss.thread === messaging.inbox"
+                hasComposerThreadName="discussView.discuss.thread === messaging.inbox"
                 hasComposerThreadTyping="true"
-                localId="discuss.threadView.localId"
+                localId="discussView.discuss.threadView.localId"
             />
         </t>
-        <t t-if="!discuss.thread and (!messaging.device.isMobile or discuss.activeMobileNavbarTabId === 'mailbox')">
+        <t t-if="!discussView.discuss.thread and (!messaging.device.isMobile or discussView.discuss.activeMobileNavbarTabId === 'mailbox')">
             <div class="o_Discuss_noThread">
                 No conversation selected.
             </div>
         </t>
-        <t t-if="messaging.device.isMobile and discuss.activeMobileNavbarTabId !== 'mailbox'">
-            <t t-if="discuss.activeMobileNavbarTabId === 'chat'">
-                <button class="o_Discuss_mobileNewChatButton btn btn-secondary" t-on-click="discuss.onClickMobileNewChatButton.bind(discuss)">
+        <t t-if="messaging.device.isMobile and discussView.discuss.activeMobileNavbarTabId !== 'mailbox'">
+            <t t-if="discussView.discuss.activeMobileNavbarTabId === 'chat'">
+                <button class="o_Discuss_mobileNewChatButton btn btn-secondary" t-on-click="discussView.discuss.onClickMobileNewChatButton">
                     Start a conversation
                 </button>
             </t>
-            <t t-if="discuss.activeMobileNavbarTabId === 'channel'">
-                <button class="o_Discuss_mobileNewChannelButton btn btn-secondary" t-on-click="discuss.onClickMobileNewChannelButton.bind(discuss)">
+            <t t-if="discussView.discuss.activeMobileNavbarTabId === 'channel'">
+                <button class="o_Discuss_mobileNewChannelButton btn btn-secondary" t-on-click="discussView.discuss.onClickMobileNewChannelButton">
                     New Channel
                 </button>
             </t>
         </t>
-        <t t-if="discuss.notificationListView">
-            <NotificationList className="'o_Discuss_notificationList'" localId="discuss.notificationListView.localId"/>
+        <t t-if="discussView.discuss.notificationListView">
+            <NotificationList className="'o_Discuss_notificationList'" localId="discussView.discuss.notificationListView.localId"/>
         </t>
-        <t t-if="discuss.mobileMessagingNavbarView">
+        <t t-if="discussView.discuss.mobileMessagingNavbarView">
             <MobileMessagingNavbar
                 className="'o_Discuss_mobileNavbar'"
-                localId="discuss.mobileMessagingNavbarView.localId"
+                localId="discussView.discuss.mobileMessagingNavbarView.localId"
             />
         </t>
     </t>
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/components/discuss/tests/discuss_tests.js b/addons/mail/static/src/components/discuss/tests/discuss_tests.js
index 242538164a8..8a56339576f 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/components/discuss/tests/discuss_tests.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/components/discuss/tests/discuss_tests.js
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ QUnit.test('messaging not created', async function (assert) {
         messagingBeforeCreationDeferred,
         waitUntilMessagingCondition: 'none'
     });
-    assert.containsOnce(document.body, '.o_Discuss_messagingNotInitialized', "should display messaging not initialized");
+    assert.containsOnce(document.body, '.o_DiscussContainer_spinner', "should display messaging not initialized");
     messagingBeforeCreationDeferred.resolve();
 });
 
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ QUnit.test('discuss should be marked as opened if the component is already rende
 
     await afterNextRender(() => messagingBeforeCreationDeferred.resolve());
     assert.ok(
-        this.messaging.discuss.isOpen,
+        this.messaging.discuss.discussView,
         "discuss should be marked as opened if the component is already rendered and messaging becomes created afterwards"
     );
 });
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ QUnit.test('discuss should be marked as closed when the component is unmounted',
 
     await afterNextRender(() => widget.destroy());
     assert.notOk(
-        this.messaging.discuss.isOpen,
+        this.messaging.discuss.discussView,
         "discuss should be marked as closed when the component is unmounted"
     );
 });
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ QUnit.test('messaging not initialized', async function (assert) {
         waitUntilMessagingCondition: 'created',
     });
     assert.strictEqual(
-        document.querySelectorAll('.o_Discuss_messagingNotInitialized').length,
+        document.querySelectorAll('.o_DiscussContainer_spinner').length,
         1,
         "should display messaging not initialized"
     );
@@ -117,14 +117,14 @@ QUnit.test('messaging becomes initialized', async function (assert) {
         waitUntilMessagingCondition: 'created',
     });
     assert.strictEqual(
-        document.querySelectorAll('.o_Discuss_messagingNotInitialized').length,
+        document.querySelectorAll('.o_DiscussContainer_spinner').length,
         1,
         "should display messaging not initialized"
     );
 
     await afterNextRender(() => messagingInitializedProm.resolve());
     assert.strictEqual(
-        document.querySelectorAll('.o_Discuss_messagingNotInitialized').length,
+        document.querySelectorAll('.o_DiscussContainer_spinner').length,
         0,
         "should no longer display messaging not initialized"
     );
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/components/discuss_container/discuss_container.js b/addons/mail/static/src/components/discuss_container/discuss_container.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b7279cc35e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/components/discuss_container/discuss_container.js
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+/** @odoo-module **/
+
+import { useModels } from "@mail/component_hooks/use_models/use_models";
+import { useUpdate } from '@mail/component_hooks/use_update/use_update';
+import { getMessagingComponent } from "@mail/utils/messaging_component";
+
+const { Component, onWillUnmount } = owl;
+
+export class DiscussContainer extends Component {
+
+    /**
+     * @override
+     */
+    setup() {
+        // for now, the legacy env is needed for internal functions such as
+        // `useModels` to work
+        this.env = Component.env;
+        useModels();
+        super.setup();
+        useUpdate({ func: () => this._update() });
+        onWillUnmount(() => this._willUnmount());
+    }
+
+    _update() {
+        if (!this.messaging || !this.messaging.discuss) {
+            return;
+        }
+        this.messaging.discuss.open();
+    }
+
+    _willUnmount() {
+        if (this.messaging && this.messaging.discuss) {
+            this.messaging.discuss.close();
+        }
+    }
+
+}
+
+Object.assign(DiscussContainer, {
+    components: { Discuss: getMessagingComponent('Discuss') },
+    template: 'mail.DiscussContainer',
+});
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/components/discuss_container/discuss_container.xml b/addons/mail/static/src/components/discuss_container/discuss_container.xml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..2466063c624
--- /dev/null
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/components/discuss_container/discuss_container.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+<templates xml:space="preserve">
+
+    <t t-name="mail.DiscussContainer" owl="1">
+        <div class="o_DiscussContainer d-flex flex-grow-1">
+            <Discuss t-if="messaging and messaging.discuss and messaging.discuss.discussView and messaging.isInitialized" className="'flex-grow-1'" localId="messaging.discuss.discussView.localId"/>
+            <div t-else="" class="o_DiscussContainer_spinner d-flex flex-grow-1 align-items-center justify-content-center">
+                <i class="o_DiscussContainer_spinnerIcon fa fa-circle-o-notch fa-spin me-2"/>Please wait...
+            </div>
+        </div>
+    </t>
+</templates>
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/components/discuss_sidebar/discuss_sidebar.js b/addons/mail/static/src/components/discuss_sidebar/discuss_sidebar.js
index 64c0b2fb8c3..1adf8dad7d2 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/components/discuss_sidebar/discuss_sidebar.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/components/discuss_sidebar/discuss_sidebar.js
@@ -25,10 +25,10 @@ export class DiscussSidebar extends Component {
     //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     /**
-     * @returns {Discuss}
+     * @returns {DiscussView}
      */
-    get discuss() {
-        return this.messaging && this.messaging.models['Discuss'].get(this.props.localId);
+    get discussView() {
+        return this.messaging && this.messaging.models['DiscussView'].get(this.props.localId);
     }
 
     //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -39,11 +39,11 @@ export class DiscussSidebar extends Component {
      * @private
      */
     _update() {
-        if (!this.discuss) {
+        if (!this.discussView) {
             return;
         }
         if (this._quickSearchInputRef.el) {
-            this._quickSearchInputRef.el.value = this.discuss.sidebarQuickSearchValue;
+            this._quickSearchInputRef.el.value = this.discussView.discuss.sidebarQuickSearchValue;
         }
     }
 
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ export class DiscussSidebar extends Component {
      */
     _onInputQuickSearch(ev) {
         ev.stopPropagation();
-        this.discuss.onInputQuickSearch(this._quickSearchInputRef.el.value);
+        this.discussView.discuss.onInputQuickSearch(this._quickSearchInputRef.el.value);
     }
 
 }
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/components/discuss_sidebar/discuss_sidebar.xml b/addons/mail/static/src/components/discuss_sidebar/discuss_sidebar.xml
index 0df96ad9838..9910295beaf 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/components/discuss_sidebar/discuss_sidebar.xml
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/components/discuss_sidebar/discuss_sidebar.xml
@@ -3,30 +3,34 @@
 
     <t t-name="mail.DiscussSidebar" owl="1">
         <div name="root" class="o_DiscussSidebar" t-attf-class="{{ className }}" t-ref="root">
-            <div class="d-flex justify-content-center">
-                <button class="o_DiscussSidebar_startAMeetingButton btn btn-primary rounded" title="Start a meeting" t-on-click="discuss.onClickStartAMeetingButton">
-                    Start a meeting
-                </button>
-            </div>
-            <hr class="o_DiscussSidebar_separator"/>
-            <div class="o_DiscussSidebar_category o_DiscussSidebar_categoryMailbox">
-                <DiscussSidebarMailbox threadLocalId="messaging.inbox.localId"/>
-                <DiscussSidebarMailbox threadLocalId="messaging.starred.localId"/>
-                <DiscussSidebarMailbox threadLocalId="messaging.history.localId"/>
-            </div>
-            <hr class="o_DiscussSidebar_separator"/>
-            <t t-if="messaging.models['Thread'].all(thread => thread.isPinned and thread.model === 'mail.channel').length > 19">
-                <input class="o_DiscussSidebar_quickSearch" t-on-input="_onInputQuickSearch" placeholder="Quick search..." t-ref="quickSearchInput" t-esc="discuss.sidebarQuickSearchValue"/>
+            <t t-if="discussView">
+                <div class="d-flex justify-content-center">
+                    <button class="o_DiscussSidebar_startAMeetingButton btn btn-primary rounded" title="Start a meeting" t-on-click="discussView.discuss.onClickStartAMeetingButton">
+                        Start a meeting
+                    </button>
+                </div>
+                <hr class="o_DiscussSidebar_separator"/>
+                <div class="o_DiscussSidebar_category o_DiscussSidebar_categoryMailbox">
+                    <DiscussSidebarMailbox threadLocalId="messaging.inbox.localId"/>
+                    <DiscussSidebarMailbox threadLocalId="messaging.starred.localId"/>
+                    <DiscussSidebarMailbox threadLocalId="messaging.history.localId"/>
+                </div>
+                <hr class="o_DiscussSidebar_separator"/>
+                <t t-if="messaging.models['Thread'].all(thread => thread.isPinned and thread.model === 'mail.channel').length > 19">
+                    <input class="o_DiscussSidebar_quickSearch" t-on-input="_onInputQuickSearch" placeholder="Quick search..." t-ref="quickSearchInput" t-esc="discussView.discuss.sidebarQuickSearchValue"/>
+                </t>
+                <DiscussSidebarCategory
+                    t-if="discussView.discuss.categoryChannel"
+                    className="'o_DiscussSidebar_category o_DiscussSidebar_categoryChannel'"
+                    localId="discussView.discuss.categoryChannel.localId"
+                />
+                <t name="beforeCategoryChat"/>
+                <DiscussSidebarCategory
+                    t-if="discussView.discuss.categoryChat"
+                    className="'o_DiscussSidebar_category o_DiscussSidebar_categoryChat'"
+                    localId="discussView.discuss.categoryChat.localId"
+                />
             </t>
-            <DiscussSidebarCategory
-                className="'o_DiscussSidebar_category o_DiscussSidebar_categoryChannel'"
-                localId="discuss.categoryChannel.localId"
-            />
-            <t name="beforeCategoryChat"/>
-            <DiscussSidebarCategory
-                className="'o_DiscussSidebar_category o_DiscussSidebar_categoryChat'"
-                localId="discuss.categoryChat.localId"
-            />
         </div>
     </t>
 
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/components/messaging_menu/messaging_menu.xml b/addons/mail/static/src/components/messaging_menu/messaging_menu.xml
index 0c5bd5d9ca4..5ce4d6de708 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/components/messaging_menu/messaging_menu.xml
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/components/messaging_menu/messaging_menu.xml
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
                                 <t t-call="mail.MessagingMenu.newMessageButton"/>
                             </t>
                             <div class="o-autogrow"/>
-                            <t t-if="!messaging.device.isMobile and !messaging.discuss.isOpen">
+                            <t t-if="!messaging.device.isMobile and !messaging.discuss.discussView">
                                 <t t-call="mail.MessagingMenu.newMessageButton"/>
                             </t>
                             <t t-if="messaging.device.isMobile and messagingMenu.isMobileNewMessageToggled">
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/models/chat_window/chat_window.js b/addons/mail/static/src/models/chat_window/chat_window.js
index 62b9a21482c..dd32e7fe5b7 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/models/chat_window/chat_window.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/models/chat_window/chat_window.js
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ registerModel({
             if (notifyServer === undefined) {
                 notifyServer = !this.messaging.device.isMobile;
             }
-            if (this.messaging.device.isMobile && !this.messaging.discuss.isOpen) {
+            if (this.messaging.device.isMobile && !this.messaging.discuss.discussView) {
                 // If we are in mobile and discuss is not open, it means the
                 // chat window was opened from the messaging menu. In that
                 // case it should be re-opened to simulate it was always
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/models/chat_window_manager/chat_window_manager.js b/addons/mail/static/src/models/chat_window_manager/chat_window_manager.js
index b6c58bf6547..b6c3a75e0e8 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/models/chat_window_manager/chat_window_manager.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/models/chat_window_manager/chat_window_manager.js
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ registerModel({
             const HIDDEN_MENU_WIDTH = 200; // max width, including width of dropup list items
             const START_GAP_WIDTH = device.isMobile ? 0 : 10;
             const chatWindows = this.allOrdered;
-            if (!device.isMobile && discuss.isOpen) {
+            if (!device.isMobile && discuss.discussView) {
                 return visual;
             }
             if (!chatWindows.length) {
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/models/discuss/discuss.js b/addons/mail/static/src/models/discuss/discuss.js
index ff780bf31e0..2a20347d890 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/models/discuss/discuss.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/models/discuss/discuss.js
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ registerModel({
          * Close the discuss app. Should reset its internal state.
          */
         close() {
-            this.update({ isOpen: false });
+            this.update({ discussView: clear() });
         },
         focus() {
             if (this.threadView && this.threadView.composerView) {
@@ -158,6 +158,9 @@ registerModel({
             }
             this.threadView.topbar.openInvitePopoverView();
         },
+        open() {
+            this.update({ discussView: insertAndReplace() });
+        },
         /**
          * Open thread from init active id. `initActiveId` is used to refer to
          * a thread that we may not have full data yet, such as when messaging
@@ -193,7 +196,7 @@ registerModel({
             if (focus !== undefined ? focus : !this.messaging.device.isMobileDevice) {
                 this.focus();
             }
-            if (!this.isOpen) {
+            if (!this.discussView) {
                 this.env.bus.trigger('do-action', {
                     action: 'mail.action_discuss',
                     options: {
@@ -237,7 +240,7 @@ registerModel({
          * @returns {string}
          */
         _computeAddingChannelValue() {
-            if (!this.isOpen) {
+            if (!this.discussView) {
                 return "";
             }
             return this.addingChannelValue;
@@ -247,7 +250,7 @@ registerModel({
          * @returns {boolean}
          */
         _computeHasThreadView() {
-            if (!this.thread || !this.isOpen) {
+            if (!this.thread || !this.discussView) {
                 return false;
             }
             if (
@@ -266,7 +269,7 @@ registerModel({
          * @returns {boolean}
          */
         _computeIsAddingChannel() {
-            if (!this.isOpen) {
+            if (!this.discussView) {
                 return false;
             }
             return this.isAddingChannel;
@@ -276,7 +279,7 @@ registerModel({
          * @returns {boolean}
          */
         _computeIsAddingChat() {
-            if (!this.isOpen) {
+            if (!this.discussView) {
                 return false;
             }
             return this.isAddingChat;
@@ -357,6 +360,10 @@ registerModel({
             inverse: 'discussAsChat',
             isCausal: true,
         }),
+        discussView: one('DiscussView', {
+            inverse: 'discuss',
+            isCausal: true,
+        }),
         /**
          * Determines whether `this.thread` should be displayed.
          */
@@ -390,13 +397,6 @@ registerModel({
             compute: '_computeIsAddingChat',
             default: false,
         }),
-        /**
-         * Whether the discuss app is open or not. Useful to determine
-         * whether the discuss or chat window logic should be applied.
-         */
-        isOpen: attr({
-            default: false,
-        }),
         /**
          * The menu_id of discuss app, received on mail/init_messaging and
          * used to open discuss from elsewhere.
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/models/discuss_view/discuss_view.js b/addons/mail/static/src/models/discuss_view/discuss_view.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e285708ed37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/models/discuss_view/discuss_view.js
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+/** @odoo-module **/
+
+import { registerModel } from '@mail/model/model_core';
+import { one } from '@mail/model/model_field';
+
+registerModel({
+    name: 'DiscussView',
+    identifyingFields: ['discuss'],
+    fields: {
+        discuss: one('Discuss', {
+            inverse: 'discussView',
+            readonly: true,
+            required: true,
+        }),
+    },
+});
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/models/messaging_initializer/messaging_initializer.js b/addons/mail/static/src/models/messaging_initializer/messaging_initializer.js
index 6a7ceee591b..8d4041547b0 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/models/messaging_initializer/messaging_initializer.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/models/messaging_initializer/messaging_initializer.js
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ registerModel({
                 route: '/mail/init_messaging',
             }, { shadow: true }));
             await this.async(() => this._init(data));
-            if (discuss.isOpen) {
+            if (discuss.discussView) {
                 discuss.openInitThread();
             }
             if (this.messaging.autofetchPartnerImStatus) {
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/models/thread/thread.js b/addons/mail/static/src/models/thread/thread.js
index 9f6a9988646..db4319ba8b3 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/models/thread/thread.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/models/thread/thread.js
@@ -942,7 +942,7 @@ registerModel({
             const discuss = this.messaging.discuss;
             // check if thread must be opened in form view
             if (!['mail.box', 'mail.channel'].includes(this.model)) {
-                if (expanded || discuss.isOpen) {
+                if (expanded || discuss.discussView) {
                     // Close chat window because having the same thread opened
                     // both in chat window and as main document does not look
                     // good.
@@ -957,7 +957,7 @@ registerModel({
             // check if thread must be opened in discuss
             const device = this.messaging.device;
             if (
-                (!device.isMobile && (discuss.isOpen || expanded)) ||
+                (!device.isMobile && (discuss.discussView || expanded)) ||
                 this.model === 'mail.box'
             ) {
                 return discuss.openThread(this, {
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/widgets/discuss/discuss.js b/addons/mail/static/src/widgets/discuss/discuss.js
index 51eeaadddfa..f9068bb6673 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/widgets/discuss/discuss.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/widgets/discuss/discuss.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /** @odoo-module **/
 
-import { getMessagingComponent } from "@mail/utils/messaging_component";
+import { DiscussContainer } from "@mail/components/discuss_container/discuss_container";
 
 import AbstractAction from 'web.AbstractAction';
 
@@ -63,8 +63,7 @@ export const DiscussWidget = AbstractAction.extend({
             // prevent twice call to on_attach_callback (FIXME)
             return;
         }
-        const DiscussComponent = getMessagingComponent("Discuss");
-        this.component = new DiscussComponent();
+        this.component = new DiscussContainer();
         this._pushStateActionManagerEventListener = ev => {
             ev.stopPropagation();
             if (this._lastPushStateActiveThread === this.discuss.thread) {
diff --git a/addons/website_livechat/static/src/components/discuss/discuss.xml b/addons/website_livechat/static/src/components/discuss/discuss.xml
index 0d148d87169..7e73220a387 100644
--- a/addons/website_livechat/static/src/components/discuss/discuss.xml
+++ b/addons/website_livechat/static/src/components/discuss/discuss.xml
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@
 <templates xml:space="preserve">
     <t t-inherit="mail.Discuss.content" t-inherit-mode="extension">
         <xpath expr="//*[@name='beforeThread']" position="before">
-            <t t-if="discuss.thread.visitor">
+            <t t-if="discussView.discuss.thread.visitor">
                 <VisitorBanner
-                    visitorLocalId="discuss.thread.visitor.localId"
+                    visitorLocalId="discussView.discuss.thread.visitor.localId"
                 />
             </t>
         </xpath>