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- Skype for Business (SFB) is a business-focused app that allows you to instant message, phone and video call, screen share, host and record meetings, and generally collaborate with your colleagues. If you’ve ever used Microsoft Lync, then you’re in luck – Lync was rebranded to Skype for Business in.
- Skype for Business on Windows or Mac provides a great online meeting experience with the latest in audio and video features, desktop sharing, and ease of use. Important: To use Skype for Business, you need a Skype for Business or Lync account—typically the same user name and password you use when signing in at work or school.
Skype for Business (SFB) is a business-focused app that allows you to instant message, phone and video call, screen share, host and record meetings, and generally collaborate with your colleagues. If you’ve ever used Microsoft Lync, then you’re in luck – Lync was rebranded to Skype for Business in 2015, refining Lync’s core functionalities ever since.
Please note this is a separate product from Skype for consumers. It’s an important distinction to make since SFB should not be viewed as a phone replacement or VOIP Service. It cannot make emergency phone calls. It serves as a lightweight collaboration tool. Any business using the Microsoft ecosystem, particularly small businesses, should take a look at SFB. It seamlessly integrates with Outlook from where you can create Skype meetings and populate your contact list. It offers a variety of plan options at attractive prices, though making sense of that spider web proves difficult (see here). Last but not least, Microsoft has already announced that Teams will be replacing SFB and when sunset occurs, it isn't clear.
An enjoyable experience
Simplicity is its strength
At its core, SFB allows you to select another SFB user from a contact list and from there, start an instant message conversation, make a call (video if you have that capability), or share your screen. Additional features build from that basic premise.
Easy learning curve and intuitive UI
The application tucks toward the side of your screen, and goes for the tall and skinny look. Your name falls at the top along with your picture, availability status (available, away, do not disturb, etc.), and a personal message for your contacts to see if you choose to write one. Below that sit four icons across the menu – Contacts, Conversations, Meetings, Settings. These determine what you see in the body of the application. It defaults to Contacts, which means most of the time you’ll be looking at your contact list when the app is open. Your contacts each have a picture, availability status, and video capability indication. Managers can check on the idle time of their employees as SFB shows a timestamp for how long someone has been away from their computer.
From there go about your usual use case. Double click on your colleague’s icon and up comes the conversation window. More icons appear allowing you to make a call, share your screen, or send a file. You can also find a “+” icon on the upper right to expand this conversation to more people. Invite the whole office, if you'd like! Some subscription levels allow up to 250 people in a conversation.
The SFB plug-in for Outlook rocks. Once installed, all you need to schedule a Skype meeting from Outlook is to make a new meeting, click on the SFB icon plug-in, and it auto populates your conference information in the body of the meeting. Add your attendees, an agenda, and pick a time, and you are off to your next game of conference call bingo.
Flexibility for including non-SFB users to your meetings and calls help SFB stand-out as a great tool for collaboration. When invited to a SFB meeting, non-SFB users have the ability to download the SFB Web App to their browser. The app allows for HD video conferencing, IM in meetings, presentation viewing, desktop sharing, whiteboard, lobby, and presenter access controls. The app also enables PC-based audio and video. The only drawback is that other SFB functionalities like viewing a user’s presence or contact information are unavailable.
Where can you run this program?
Luckily, Microsoft serves up a free client that you can try. According to the website, the free basic client provides presence, instant messaging, and conferencing features. If you are licensed for Office 365 ProPlus, Office 365 Enterprise E3 and Office 365 Enterprise E4, you are also licensed for the full Skype for Business Windows desktop client, which includes additional features including advanced telephone support, archiving, and compliance features.
Is there a better alternative?
Microsoft has made it clear that Teams will replace SFB but gives no clear date when the service in question will shut down. While the UI of SFB is preferable, Teams has some clear advantages when it comes to features, specially for larger organizations. Persistent chat (think chat rooms) and greater integration with other Microsoft Office suite products is one advantage of Teams. It’s also the future-proof choice given more development is unlikely with SFB.
Slack is another very popular alternative. It has one of the best UIs in the business; mass adoption so you’re bound to find others in your organization that have some experience with it; and a target painted on its back: Microsoft developed Teams to compete with it.
Our take
Small businesses should take a hard look at SFB for their communication needs. That is, if they don’t already subscribe to Office 365 which bundles it. Large businesses may want the more robust features of full-fledged VOIP services or Teams. Its simplicity is its forte. Microsoft Teams – the replacement for SFB – can appear cluttered and less intuitive, albeit more capable.
Should you download?
Does your office participate in the modern, remote-work era where it might need IM, video calling, and teleconferencing? Does it use Microsoft products? If so, it probably already has SFB and if not, the free version lies a few clicks away. So, go for it.
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-->Summary: Skype for Business Server 2019 or Skype for Business Online administrators can use these tables to understand what features are supported on which clients.
Before you deploy or upgrade to Skype for Business Server, check which clients are already in use in your organization. Use the tables below to understand the feature support impact on those clients. This can help you communicate changes to users, pace the roll-out process, and fully understand the benefits of upgrading to the latest client.
Some features available with Skype for Business Server 2019 are not available in Skype for Business Online; see Online or Hybrid user account limitations for specifics. Skype for Business Online Admins may want to refer to Skype for Business Online Service Description for information on the different plans available to them.
The following tables show the features that are available with each client that works with Skype for Business Server 2019 or Skype for Business Online. You may also want to refer to Mobile client feature comparison for Skype for Business for smart phone and tablet client feature comparisons. The Client Access License or User Subscription License your organization purchases will also have an impact on which features are available to your users. Whether you deploy the Full or Basic client to users depends on the license or plan your organization chooses to buy. See the Licensing Guide for more details.
Skype For Business Client For Mac
Important
Skype for Business Server 2019 and Skype for Business Online support the following previously released clients: Lync 2013, Skype for Business 2015, and Skype for Business 2016, as well as the Skype for Business 2019 client. For information about these clients when used with other servers, see the Client comparison tables for Lync Server 2013 and Desktop client feature comparison for Skype for Business 2015.
Note
The Skype for Business Web App browser client and Skype Meetings App Windows 10 app only provide Meetings support. Refer to Plan for Meetings clients (Web App and Meetings App) for more about these clients.
Enhanced Presence support
This table covers the Enhanced Presence features that extend beyond a simple indication of whether a user is online, offline, busy, etc.
| Feature/capability | Skype for Business 2015, 2016, or 2019 client | Skype for Business on Mac | Lync 2013 client |
|---|---|---|---|
| Publish status | ✔ | ✔ ❶ | ✔ |
| View status | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| View status notes and Out of Office messages | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Add a custom location | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Add a custom note | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Use a photo from any public site for My Picture (not available in Skype for Business Online) | ✔ | ✔ |
❶ Does not support publishing status based on calendar free/busy information.
Contacts and Contact Groups support
This table covers the features relating to managing IM and Presence contacts.
| Feature/capability | Skype for Business 2015, 2016, or 2019 client | Skype for Business on Mac | Lync 2013 client |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-populated Contacts list | ✔ | ||
| View and Modify Contacts list | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Tag contacts for status change alerts | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Control privacy relationships | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Search the corporate address book | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Search Microsoft Outlook contacts | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Manage contact groups | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Expand distribution groups and Microsoft 365 Groups | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Search for Response Groups (not available in Skype for Business Online) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Display recent contacts group | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Display current conversations group | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Display alternate contact views (for example, tile) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Sort contacts by Group, Relationship, or New (people who've added you to their Contacts list) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Sort contacts by Status (availability) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Search and add Exchange contacts | ✔ | ✔ |
IM support
This table covers features related to IM support.
| Feature/capability | Skype for Business 2015, 2016, or 2019 client | Skype for Business on Mac | Lync 2013 client |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initiate IM with or email to a contact | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Navigate among multiple IM conversations/Track multiple conversations in a single tabbed window | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Log IM conversations in Outlook | ✔ | ✔ If server-side conversation history is turned on | ✔ |
| Check spelling | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Skill search (with SharePoint Server integration) (On-premises Skype for Business Server and on-premises SharePoint 2013 are required for skill search.) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Persistent Chat (Group Chat) integration (not available for Skype for Business Online) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Escalate a Persistent Chat room to a Skype for Business Meeting with one click (not available for Skype for Business Online) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Inline pictures of sender and receiver in IM window | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Receive ink messages | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Set IM messages as high importance | ✔ | ✔ |
Meetings support
This table covers features related to Meetings support.
Skype For Business Desktop App For Mac Free
Note
Skype for Business meeting features aren't available in Skype for Business Online Standalone Plan 1. Plan 1 is being retired.
In Skype-to-Skype sessions, a Skype for Business Online Plan 1 user can participate in desktop sharing and application sharing if they're invited by a user who has access to sharing features.For details, see the Skype for Business Online Service Description.
| Feature/capability | Skype for Business 2016 client | Skype for Business on Mac | Skype for Business Web App | Skype for Business 2015 client | Lync 2013 client |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Add computer audio | ✔ | ✔ | ✔(requires plug-in) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Add video | ✔ | ✔ | ✔(requires plug-in) | ✔ | ✔ |
| View multiparty video (gallery view) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Video-based screen sharing | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ View-only | ||
| Use in-meeting presenter controls | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Access detailed meeting roster | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Participate in multiparty IM | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Share the desktop (if enabled) | ✔ | ✔ ❶ | ✔ ❶ (requires plug-in) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Share a program (if enabled) | ✔ | View only | ✔(requires plug-in) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Add anonymous participants (if enabled) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Use dial-in audio meetings ❷ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Initiate a Meet Now meeting | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Add and present Microsoft PowerPoint files | ✔ | ❸ Annotations not available | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Navigate Microsoft PowerPoint files | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Add and edit OneNote meeting notes | ✔ | Edit only (not add) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Use a whiteboard | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Conduct polls | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Upload files to share with others | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Schedule a meeting or conference | Outlook or Skype for Business Web Scheduler | Outlook or Skype for Business Web Scheduler | Skype for Business Web Scheduler | Outlook or Skype for Business Web Scheduler | Outlook or Lync Web Scheduler |
| Q&A Manager | ✔ | ||||
| Disable attendee video | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Disable meeting IM | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Mute Audience | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Make everyone an attendee | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Produce Skype Meeting Broadcast | ✔ | ||||
| Delegate can schedule a meeting on behalf of delegator | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Synchronize delegates between Skype for Business and Outlook | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Set Video Spotlight (lock video) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Give/Take control of screen sharing | ✔ | ✔ |
❶ Participants can't control desktops that are shared by Skype for Business on Mac, Lync for Mac 2011, or Communicator for Mac 2011 users. Skype for Business on Mac, Lync for Mac 2011 and Communicator for Mac 2011 users can't control desktops shared by Windows users. This also won't work for Skype for Business Web App on Max OSX.
❷ For Skype for Business Online, this feature requires Microsoft PSTN Conferencing, Exchange Unified Messaging, or a third-party audio conferencing provider.
❸ The Lync for Mac 2011 client cannot view Microsoft Office 2013 PowerPoint presentations when they have been shared in a conference by the Skype for Business Web App.
❹ For Skype for Business 2016 apps, you must be using Click-to-Run, build 16.0.4227 or later.
➀ For Skype for Business 2015 apps, you must have the September Update, build 15.0.4747 or later.
Voice (Telephony) support
This table covers features related to voice services support.
Note
Skype for Business Voice (Telephony) features are limited to certain Skype for Business Online subscription plans. For details, see the Skype for Business Online Service Description.
| Feature/capability | Skype for Business 2015, 2016, or 2019 client | Skype for Business on Mac | Lync 2013 client |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initiate a call | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Click to call a contact | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Transfer a call | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Manage call forwarding | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ ❶ |
| Manage team call settings | ✔ | ✔ ❶ | |
| Manage delegates | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ ❶ |
| Initiate a call to a Response Group | ✔ | ✔ ❶ | |
| Support emergency services (E-911) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ ❶ |
| IM notification to SIP URI(s) for E-911 call | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| IM notification to distribution list for E-911 call | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Connect to voice mail, set up or change greeting | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ ❶ |
| Missed call notification | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ ❶ |
| Make calls on behalf of another contact (manager/delegate scenario) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ ❶ |
| Handle another's calls if configured as a delegate | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ ❶ |
| Call park | ✔ | ✔ ❶ | |
| Group call pickup | ✔ | ✔ ❶ | |
| Location-based routing | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Manage Response Group/Team call group | ✔ | ✔ |
❶ This feature isn't available in Skype for Business Online.
External users support
This table covers features related to support for external users homed on the PSTN.
| Feature/capability | Skype for Business 2015, 2016, or 2019 client | Skype for Business on Mac | Lync 2013 client |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initiate IM with a public contact | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Initiate IM with a federated contact | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Conduct two-party or multiparty calls with external users (not available in Skype for Business Online) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Recording support
This table covers features related to support for recording meetings.
| Feature/capability | Skype for Business 2015, 2016, or 2019 client | Skype for Business on Mac | Lync 2013 client |
|---|---|---|---|
| Client-side recording of audio, video, application sharing, desktop sharing, and uploaded content | ✔ ❶ | ✔ ❶ | |
| Client-side recording of file transfers, shared OneNote pages, and PowerPoint annotations | ✔ ❷ | ✔ ❷ | |
| Select preferred recording resolution | ✔ | ✔ |
❶ Recording is unavailable in certain Skype for Business Online standalone plans. Recording requires full Skype for Business client rights.
❷ Recording of file transfers, shared OneNote pages, and PowerPoint annotations is unavailable in Skype for Business Online.
Modern Authentication
This table covers features requiring support for modern authentication.
Modern authentication also requires a topology described in Skype for Business topologies supported with Modern Authentication.
| Feature/capability | Skype for Business 2015, 2016, or 2019 client | Skype for Business on Mac | Lync 2013 client |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modern Authentication | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Multi-factor Authentication | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Cert -Based Authentication | ✔(Domain-joined device only) | ✔ | ✔(Domain-joined device only) |
| Kerberos Authentication | ✔ | ✔ |
Archiving, compliance, and logging support
This table covers features related to support for archiving and logging functions.
| Feature/capability | Skype for Business 2015, 2016, or 2019 client | Skype for Business on Mac | Lync 2013 client |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archiving of IM conversations in Outlook Conversation History | ✔ ❶ | ✔ If server-side conversation history is turned on | ✔ ❶ |
| Client-side archiving of audio, video, application sharing, desktop sharing, and uploaded content | ✔ ❶ | ✔ ❶ | |
| Client-side archiving of file transfers, shared OneNote pages, and PowerPoint annotations (unavailable in Skype for Business Online) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Access sign-in logs from Skype for Business icon in the task bar | ✔ | ✔ |
❶ For Skype for Business Online users, this feature requires Exchange Online and is controlled by the user's Exchange mailbox In-Place Hold attribute.
Client limitations
Basic client limitations
The features below are available using the Full client and are not available with the Basic client:
Manage team call settings
Manage delegates
Make calls on behalf of another contact (manager/delegate scenario)
Handle another's calls if configured as a delegate
Manage a high volume of calls
Initiate a call to a Response Group
Call park
Change greeting
Group call pickup
Online or Hybrid user account limitations
User accounts can exist either Online or On-premises, and that will affect the features available to that user. Users with accounts on Skype for Business Online will not have access to the following features, even with the Full client:
Enhanced Presence: Use a photo from any public site for My Picture
Contacts: Search for Response Groups
IM Support: Persistent Chat (Group Chat) integration
IM Support: Escalate a Persistent Chat room to a Skype for Business Meeting with one click
External Users: Conduct two-party or multiparty calls with external users