diff --git a/addons/bus/static/src/js/bus.js b/addons/bus/static/src/js/bus.js
index 58ff9c216ea..b36a620afb3 100644
--- a/addons/bus/static/src/js/bus.js
+++ b/addons/bus/static/src/js/bus.js
@@ -32,8 +32,9 @@ bus.Bus = Widget.extend({
                 this.trigger('window_focus', this.is_master);
             }
         });
-        $(window).on("focus", _.bind(this.window_focus, this));
-        $(window).on("blur", _.bind(this.window_blur, this));
+        $(window).on("focus", _.bind(this.focus_change, this, true));
+        $(window).on("blur", _.bind(this.focus_change, this, false));
+        $(window).on("unload", _.bind(this.focus_change, this, false));
         _.each('click,keydown,keyup'.split(','), function(evtype) {
             $(window).on(evtype, function() {
                 self.last_presence = new Date().getTime();
@@ -93,11 +94,8 @@ bus.Bus = Widget.extend({
         this.channels = _.without(this.channels, channel);
     },
     // bus presence : window focus/unfocus
-    window_focus: function() {
-        this.set("window_focus", true);
-    },
-    window_blur: function() {
-        this.set("window_focus", false);
+    focus_change: function(focus) {
+        this.set("window_focus", focus);
     },
     is_odoo_focused: function () {
         return this.get("window_focus");
@@ -211,6 +209,10 @@ var CrossTabBus = bus.Bus.extend({
         if(e.key === 'bus.options'){
             this.options = JSON.parse(value);
         }
+        // update focus
+        if(e.key === 'bus.focus'){
+            this.set('window_focus', JSON.parse(value));
+        }
     },
     add_channel: function(){
         this._super.apply(this, arguments);
@@ -231,6 +233,10 @@ var CrossTabBus = bus.Bus.extend({
         this._super.apply(this, arguments);
         setItem('bus.options', this.options);
     },
+    focus_change: function(focus) {
+        this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+        setItem('bus.focus', focus);
+    },
 });
 
 
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/js/chat_manager.js b/addons/mail/static/src/js/chat_manager.js
index 4f3a039b63d..7796226da10 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/js/chat_manager.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/js/chat_manager.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ var web_client = require('web.web_client');
 
 var _t = core._t;
 var LIMIT = 100;
-var preview_msg_max_size = 200;
+var preview_msg_max_size = 350;  // optimal for native english speakers
 
 var MessageModel = new Model('mail.message', session.context);
 var ChannelModel = new Model('mail.channel', session.context);
@@ -44,25 +44,36 @@ var beep = (function () {
 
 bus.on("window_focus", null, function() {
     global_unread_counter = 0;
-    notify();
+    web_client.set_title_part("_chat");
 });
 
-function increment_global_unread_counter () {
-    if (!bus.is_odoo_focused()) {
-        global_unread_counter++;
-        notify(bus.is_master);
+function notify_incoming_message (msg, options) {
+    var title = _t('New message');
+    if (msg.author_id[1]) {
+        title += _t(' from ') + _.escape(msg.author_id[1]);
     }
-}
+    var content = $(msg.body).text().substr(0, preview_msg_max_size);
 
-function notify (play_sound) {
-    var title;
-    if (global_unread_counter > 0) {
-        title = _.str.sprintf(_t("%d Messages"), global_unread_counter);
-        if (play_sound) {
-            beep();
+    if (bus.is_odoo_focused()) {
+        if (!options.is_displayed) {
+            web_client.do_notify(title, content);
+        }
+    } else {
+        global_unread_counter++;
+        var tab_title = _.str.sprintf(_t("%d Messages"), global_unread_counter);
+        web_client.set_title_part("_chat", tab_title);
+
+        if (Notification && Notification.permission === "granted") {
+            if (bus.is_master) {
+                new Notification(title, {body: content, icon: "/web/static/src/img/odoo.png", silent: false});
+            }
+        } else {
+            web_client.do_notify(title, content);
+            if (bus.is_master) {
+                beep();
+            }
         }
     }
-    web_client.set_title_part("_chat", title);
 }
 
 // Message and channel manipulation helpers
@@ -93,22 +104,10 @@ function add_message (data, options) {
                 channel.hidden = false;
                 chat_manager.bus.trigger('new_channel', channel);
             }
-            if (is_chat && options.show_notification) {
-                var query = { is_displayed: false };
+            if (is_chat && options.show_notification && (!msg.author_id || msg.author_id[0] !== session.partner_id)) {
+                var query = {is_displayed: false};
                 chat_manager.bus.trigger('anyone_listening', channel, query);
-                if (!query.is_displayed) {
-                    var title = _t('New message');
-                    if (msg.author_id[1]) {
-                        title += _t(' from ') + _.escape(msg.author_id[1]);
-                    }
-                    var trunc_text = function (t, limit) {
-                        return (t.length > limit) ? t.substr(0, limit-1)+'…' : t;
-                    };
-                    web_client.do_notify(title, trunc_text(msg.body, preview_msg_max_size));
-                }
-            }
-            if (is_chat && options.increment_unread && (!msg.author_id || msg.author_id[0] !== session.partner_id)) {
-                increment_global_unread_counter();
+                notify_incoming_message(msg, query);
             }
         });
         if (!options.silent) {
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/js/client_action.js b/addons/mail/static/src/js/client_action.js
index a369687c8e2..ce505e569c1 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/js/client_action.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/js/client_action.js
@@ -116,6 +116,14 @@ var ChatAction = Widget.extend(ControlPanelMixin, {
                 chat_manager.undo_mark_as_read(msgs_ids, channel);
             });
         },
+        "click .o_mail_annoying_notification_bar .fa-close": function (event) {
+            this.$(".o_mail_annoying_notification_bar").slideUp();
+        },
+        "click .o_mail_request_permission": function (event) {
+            event.preventDefault();
+            this.$(".o_mail_annoying_notification_bar").slideUp();
+            window.Notification.requestPermission();
+        },
     },
 
     on_attach_callback: function () {
@@ -135,6 +143,7 @@ var ChatAction = Widget.extend(ControlPanelMixin, {
         this.options = options || {};
         this.channels_scrolltop = {};
         this.throttled_render_sidebar = _.throttle(this.render_sidebar.bind(this), 100, { leading: false });
+        this.notification_bar = (window.Notification.permission === "default");
     },
 
     willStart: function () {
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/less/client_action.less b/addons/mail/static/src/less/client_action.less
index f6c42c16b8d..8ab1c9f221c 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/less/client_action.less
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/less/client_action.less
@@ -10,6 +10,35 @@
         height: auto;
     }
 
+    .o_mail_annoying_notification_bar {
+        height: 40px;
+        background-color: #DFA941;
+        color: white;
+        text-shadow: 0px 1px 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.25);
+        .o-flex-display();
+        border-bottom: 1px solid @odoo-main-color-muted;
+
+        .o_mail_request_permission {
+            .o-flex-display();
+            justify-content: center;
+            .o-flex(1,1, auto);
+        }
+        > span {
+            font-size: 16px;
+            line-height: 40px;
+            > a {
+                color: white;
+                margin-left: 5px;
+                text-decoration: underline;
+            }
+
+            &.fa-close {
+                margin-right: 10px;
+                cursor: pointer;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     .o_mail_chat_sidebar {
         width: @mail-chat-sidebar-width;
         height: 100%;
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/xml/client_action.xml b/addons/mail/static/src/xml/client_action.xml
index 0c254e7cf7f..f2b22d5587a 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/xml/client_action.xml
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/xml/client_action.xml
@@ -4,6 +4,12 @@
     <!-- Client Action -->
     <t t-name="mail.client_action">
         <div class="o_mail_chat">
+            <t t-if="widget.notification_bar">
+                <div class="o_mail_annoying_notification_bar">
+                    <span class="o_mail_request_permission">Odoo needs your permission to <a href="#"> enable desktop notifications</a>.</span>
+                    <span class="fa fa-close"></span>
+                </div>
+            </t>
             <div class="o_mail_chat_sidebar"/>
             <div class="o_mail_chat_content"/>
         </div>