Revamped Skype for Business rolls out for Office 365, quietly bumping off Lync
As it signalled last November, Microsoft pulled out elements from its older Lync client and rereleased it as Skype for Business on Tuesday. The new software will roll out as part of the April release of Skype for Business. And the online version of the app, known as Skype for Business Online, is making its way to your browser right now, Microsoft said; everyone should see it by the end of the month.
Unlike other product releases, Microsoft's goal for the Skype update is to make the transition, well, as dull as possible. The goal is for you to slide from Lync to Skype for Business with minimal hassle.
"Skype for Business is based on the familiar Skype experience that more than 300 million people use every month to connect with friends and family," Microsoft said in a statement. "It is built right into Office, so features like presence, IM, voice and video calls, and online meetings are an integrated part of the Office experience. And with Skype for Business, you can search for and connect with anyone in the Skype network--inside or outside your organization."
Why this matters: Since 2013, customers have wondered why Microsoft kept both Skype and Lync around, because the overlap between the two products was so great. On the other hand, Microsoft essentially had the best of two collaboration products to pull from. With Lync now dead, Skype will carry the torch. You have to wonder now, however, how long Skype will be maintained as a separate product. Tivo, for example, was founded on a novel concept--"pausing" live TV--but DVR functions are now just a feature of modern cable boxes. Will video conversation and chat eventually just be a component of Outlook
A fresh new look
Screenshots released by Microsoft show Skype for Business video calls (top) using the same Skype interface, able to connect to a list of Skype or Lync contacts. Skype for Business will also keep the popover window that shows the details of a call if a user moves to another application. Skype for Business is built right into Microsoft Office, so features like presence, IM, voice and video calls, and online meetings are available to be used by other Office apps.
IT administrators rolling out the new services to their enterprises can delay the rollout if they so choose, Microsoft said.