Skype for Business is formerly a Microsoft Office Communicator and Microsoft Lync and an instant messaging client used with Skype for Business server or with Skype for Business online which is available with Microsoft office 365, thus Skype for business is an enterprise software.
Therefore, on 11th of November 2014, Microsoft announced that Skype business is a new platform to replace Lync in 2015, and this new platform of communication software combines features of Lync and of the consumer Software.
Thus, there are two user interfaces under the Skype business, and organizations can switch their users from default Skype for business interface to the Skype for Business (Lync) interface.
Although, on September 2017, Microsoft announced that Microsoft Teams would replace Skype for Business eventually and on the 20th of May 2018 Microsoft retired Skype for business for Windows phone.
In general, Skype business which was formerly known as Microsoft Lync Server. It is a unified communications platform that integrates common channels of business communication and online meetings, which include instant messaging or texting, online presence, voice over IP, voicemail, file transfers, video conferencing, web conferencing and email.
Microsoft team is cloud-based collaboration software that has similar capabilities to Skype for business. While both Microsoft product are part of office 365 and feature messaging, presence, and voice and video communications. Skype for Business has additional features including PSTN calling and conference.
Benefits of Skype for Business
We all known the challenges one encounter why running a company or a business enterprise, which include time and finance and how you have to excel with the resources you have available, the need to work smarter than your competitors.
Thus, with the above challenges, businesses have found out that using Skype video calling, low cost international calls and instant messaging can help reduce overhead costs and benefits their company, thus under this platform we I will making you to see why you have to try Skype for Business:
- Cut the cost of your Business calls
A big business enterprise spend more time to reach out to individually to its customers, prospects and partners. Thus, making calls can be costly especially to colleagues and customers on their mobile phones or when they are in other parts of the world.
Skype for business keep costs to a minimal to improve your bottom line. Therefore saves cost of business calls without skimping on the quality of your service.
- Keep track of your expenditures
Skype for business enables business enterprises to keep track of your call cost simply. Skype manager aids user to manage your Skype account centrally, thus you can set account for your staff, allocate credit and keep track of how much everyone spends, which makes it easier for you to budget for your calls and identify where savings can be.
- Reduce your business travel
Being able to communicate with clients and colleagues wherever they are in the world are in the world is key to the success of any business for travel costs can make a big hole in your profit, not just things like fuel, hotel bills etc. also less spending of time in the office. Therefore Skype through video calls and phone calls have rescued your business from this inconvenience.
- Stay in touch with your colleagues
This platform also enables you to be in touch with everyone involved in a business through instant messaging and calls, you can get to everyone involved in the running of any project.
- Stay in touch with customer
As a business man or woman, you know that customers are in the center of any business, small or large, thus, with Skype you can connect with them easily to provide high level of services to them, for when use Skype for business, customers who also use Skype can call you from wherever they are just by clicking the Skype number on your website.
How to Create Skype for Business Account
For you to create or have a Skype for business you must have office 365 global admin permissions to set up Skype for business account.
- Plan for Skype for Business, thus if you have office 365 Business premium or business essentials, you can use Skype for business to make online calls to other people in your business who are on your subscription.
- Sign into office 365
- Set up your domain and users, thus, once signed in you can set up your domain and people in your organization to use Skype for Business online.
- Set up IM and presence in your organization, so that people in your business to Skype and IM (Instant message) each other.
- Download and install Skype for Business. Everyone involved in the business has to do that.
- Test to make sure everything is alright, such as if everyone in the Skype for business can video, sign in and out. Also try a quick meeting.
