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Skype, for Business? Yes

LYNC IS NOW SKYPE FOR BUSINESS

Skype, for Business? Yes

Lync is Now Skype for Business

If you already use Skype to stay in touch with friends and family in your life away from work, you’ll appreciate the power and simplicity of Skype for Business where it’s easy to find and connect with co-workers. And you can use the devices you already have to reach businesses through an enterprise-grade, secure, IT-managed platform.

If you’re coming to Skype for Business from Lync, you’ll recognize all of the features you already use but in a fresh new interface with simplified controls and some great new additions:

  • New look and feel
  • Call via Work
  • Skype directory integration
  • Dual user experience
  • Call Monitor
  • Rate My Call
  • Quick access to call controls
  • Emoticons
Below are the most frequently asked questions about Microsoft’s Skype for Business:

Why did Microsoft change the name of Lync to Skype for Business?
Skype for Business brings together the familiar experience and user love of Skype with the enterprise security, compliance and control of Lync. End-users get a familiar Skype experience that’s as easy to use at work as it is at home. Organizations gain reach into a network of hundreds of millions of Skype users across the globe. Plus, IT remains confident they’re providing their organizations reliable, high-quality communications with security.

Is there any change to the existing Skype brand used by consumers?
No. The consumer experience people around the world know and love will continue to be referred to as Skype. Consumers will still be able to use Skype the way they always have—with the same user account, contacts, product interface and functionalities they have always used.

How has the product experience for Lync changed?
The best features of Lync and Skype have been combined in a Skype-inspired user interface. The user experience is more tightly aligned between Skype for Business and Skype, so the features are similar and intuitive whether you’re in a work environment or communicating with family.

Skype for Business includes other new features such as:

  • Familiar Skype icons for audio and video calling
  • A call monitor to keep active calls visible while switching between apps
  • Enterprise connection with the Skype network through IM, audio, and video
  • A simpler upgrade and patch process for Skype for Business Server and more
Will Lync users lose any features or functionality when the product becomes Skype for Business?
No. Skype for Business delivers the same features and functionality as well as the control, security, and reliability that enterprise customers expect. For instance, Skype for Business admins can decide how and when the user interface is displayed. This additional control means they can deliver Skype for Business on their terms.

 

Will Skype for Business continue to be part of Office and Office 365 just like Lync was?
Yes. Skype for Business will continue to be a cornerstone of the value proposition and product experience for Office and Office 365.

How do current customers get Skype for Business?
Current Lync Server customers with Software Assurance will have rights to deploy Skype for Business. Office 365 customers with Lync Online will receive automatic updates as part of the subscription service.

Will Skype for Business users have accounts separate from their personal Skype accounts?
Yes. Skype for Business users will log in using their Active Directory ID credentials. Skype customers will continue to use their Skype IDs. Customer feedback indicates they’re not ready to merge their personal work contacts.

Will users be able to access their Skype for Business accounts through the Skype client or Skype mobile app?
No. There will be separate desktop clients and web and mobile apps for Skype and Skype for Business.

Categories: Microsoft Technical

Terry Mott

Terry Mott

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