Microsoft has announced that Skype for Business Online will be withdrawn from the market and, starting from that date, no users will be able to use the application anymore.
Here are all the details on the retirement plan and some tips on what to do if you have active licenses.
Note: The announcement concerns Skype for Business Online only: neither Skype nor Skype for Business Server will be affected by the activities foreseen on the online version of the application.
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What is included in the Skype for Business Online retirement plan?
Skype for Business Online will be retired, and after that date, the service will no longer be accessible. Until that date, existing Skype for Business Online customers will not experience any changes in service and will be able to continue to add new users as needed. However, starting Microsoft will connect all new Office 365 customers directly to Microsoft Teams to take advantage of chat, meeting, and calling capabilities.
Skype and Skype for Business Server will not be affected by this announcement.
Why did Microsoft make the announcement now?
In 2017 Microsoft launched Microsoft Teams, a new ” hub for teamwork and collaboration” in Microsoft 365, and after two years of optimizations, the Redmond company believed that this new solution was ready to become the reference point in terms of Communication and Collaboration.
Microsoft Teams combines chat, video, calling, and document collaboration into one integrated app and lets you work in whole new ways. Microsoft has worked closely with customers over the past two years to refine the solution, and as Microsoft’s Microsoft’s Gold Partner on Cloud Productivity, Small and Midmarket Cloud Solutions, and Collaboration and Content, we feel we can confidently recommend it as an upgrade to all Skype for Business online customers.
By using Teams, organizations have the ability to become more agile, shortening collaboration times and improving workflow efficiency while reducing unnecessary overhead.
Microsoft Teams isn’tisn’t just an update to Skype for Business Online, and it’s a powerful tool that opens the door to a whole new way of working and doing business. This is also supported by the recent white paper published by Forrester entitled “The Total Economic Impact of Microsoft Teams.”
What can we do to help you upgrade from Skype for Business to Teams?
Upgrading from Skype for Business to Teams is more than just a technical migration. It represents a transformation in how users communicate and collaborate, and change can be challenging.
The optimal approach is the one that combines the technical aspects with attention to the adoption of the new software, encouraging users to use it and guiding them to favor a positive user experience.
That’sThat’s why we offer a proven framework to streamline your transition to Microsoft Teams. Find out in the article “How to deal with the migration from Skype for Business to Microsoft Teams? “.
Our point of view
Since its introduction, Skype for Business has been an invaluable tool for millions worldwide. By combining instant messaging, calling, and video in a single app, the product has created an exciting new vision for business communications.
Microsoft Teams is the next chapter in that vision. With the news a few days ago, Microsoft isn’t-isn’t just announcing the retirement of its Skype for Business Online service but signaling its confidence in Teams. After more than two years on the market, Teams is ready for the most demanding customers and organizations of any size.
If you’re a current Skype for Business Online customer, start planning your upgrade to Microsoft Teams today.
As a Microsoft Gold Partner, our certified specialists are here to help you every step of the way.
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