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Seamless Skype for Business Upgrade to Teams – A Complete Guide

In July 2019, Microsoft announced that Skype for Business Online is retiring on July 31, 2021. This means that after its cutoff date, it will no longer be accessible or supported. To maximize benefits and ensure that your organization is given proper time to deploy your Skype for Business upgrade to Teams, it's best you begin your journey to Microsoft Teams today.

Built exclusively to integrate with the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, Teams is  highly likely  to surpass and replace Skype for Business in terms of adoption and functionality.  The Skype for Business upgrade to Teams  may not entirely mean a 1-to-1 transition, but it's an upgrade  mode that delivers a lot of value.

Microsoft  Teams vs Skype for Business Online

Extending the capabilities of  SFB , t he latter service from Microsoft brings together chat , meetings, calling, collaboration, app integration, and file storage into a single interface. This new  central hub and collaboration tool for teamwork  can help streamline the way users get things done, improving  customer  satisfaction and accelerating business outcomes. Microsoft is constantly expanding the capabilities, enabling  Teams user s to communicate and  collaborate internally or with external party  in new ways, break down organizational and geographical barriers, and drive efficiency in process and decision making. 

As we all know,  both the services under consideration  would do the basic things quite smoothly i.e., Calling, Chatting or Meetings etc. But one certainly would be curious to know what are the extras that come w ith the new service of Microsof t which makes it a better and refined  mode   to upgrade to for their company .  So, let's have an incredibly detailed look at the feature difference between the two.

The features comparison information is primarily collected from Luca’s Skype for Business and Teams Features Comparison Table shared over TechNet gallery.

Skype for Business Upgrade to Teams

A flourishing technical environment, sustained user adoption, and the understanding of your business goals all begin with proper planning. A solid plan gives you a framework for your upgrade and makes sure that all stakeholders are working simultaneously.

O nce you're ready to make your move , Microsoft has two upgrade paths that can help with your migration:

1. Microsoft Teams Upgrade Basic (Cutover)

2. Microsoft teams Upgrade Pro (Co-Existence)

1. Upgrade Basic  (Cutover)

The U pgrade Basic mode  is designed for smaller organizations or those  people  that are using  SFB as their primary chat tool  and meetings only. It's a quick action plan for implementing your Skype for Business upgrade to Teams that includes recommended activities, and relevant resources. The Skype for Business Upgrade to Teams upgrade is designed to keep in mind that you'll be shifting your entire organization to  the new service at once.  The Skype for Business Upgrade to Teams process typically takes around 30 to 45 days.

The following ten steps furnish everything you need for a successful Skype for Business Upgrade to Teams. They're designed to be completed in the estimated 30 to 45 days but can be adjusted based on your organization's upgrade schedule.

• Notify your key stakeholders
• Prepare your organizatio n for the move
• Know your Skype for Business users
• Notify your users about the upgrade
• Activate the user upgrade notification
• Give your users a reminder of the shift
• Upgrade all users to Teams
• Monitor Teams usage against your baseline
• Measure user satisfaction
• Maximize your ROI with Teams

You can learn in detail about all these steps in this  article by Microsoft  After your users are upgrade d to Teams Only mode):

• Their  SFB client will be disabled, and all chat and calls go to Teams. This will not uninstall the client on their desktops.
• Any  SFB meetings that were scheduled before the upgrade will work as designed, but all the new meetings will be scheduled in Teams. The Skype for Business plugin will no longer be available in Outlook.
• If a user tries to sign in to Skype for Business, they will get a notification from their client that they've been upgraded to Teams.
• Users would need to manually uninstall Skype for Business client on their devices.

2.  Upgrade Pro  (Co-Existence)

The Up grade Pro (coexistence mode for journey to Teams)  is designed for organizations larger in size, or those that acquire a more complex deployment of  SFB and not only use this tool for some features . It is comparatively a more prolonged upgraded lifecycle that would be completed in phases and offers extensive guidance and planning resources. This phased approach typically takes around 120 to 150 days. You can learn more about this  mode  in an incredibly detailed article to  Upgrade from Skype for Business to Microsoft Teams  After your users are upgraded to  Teams Only mode:

• Their  SFB  client will be disabled, and all chat  communications   and phone call experience go to Teams. This will not uninstall the client on their desktops.
• Any Skype for Business meetings that were scheduled before the upgrade will work as designed, but all the new meetings will be scheduled in Teams. The Skype for Business plugin will no longer be available in Outlook.

How to choose Your Skype for Business upgrade to Teams Strategy

There is a question to answer that which Skype for Business upgrade to Teams path would be good for you. To have an answer to this question please have a look at the below comparison of both approaches which would help you decide in the end which option to go with.

Microsoft offers several options for running Skype for Business Online and Teams together which is also known as Teams Skype for Business Interoperability. These coexistence modules allow users to familiarize themselves with Teams while helping accelerate your upgrade to Teams ONLY. Here’s how you can use Teams and Skype together in the meanwhile.

Microsoft Teams Licensing

To begin discussing this portion, we need to understand the current standings of Skype for Business Online Plans that how Skype for Business Online retire announcement has affected them and what are the aftereffects.

Skype for Business Online Plan 1 retired

Skype for Business Online Plan 1 has retired. However, if you have a current subscription to Skype for Business Online Plan 1, this change won’t affect you right away. As a global Office 365 admin, you’ll receive email updates and see posts in the message center (part of the Microsoft 365 admin center) with information on when you need to act. In the meantime, you can continue to use your existing Skype for Business Online Plan 1 licenses.

When you are ready to move to a new plan — either now or during renewal — you’ll have the option to switch to another Office 365 plan of your choosing.

You can maintain the same functionality you had with Skype for Business Online Plan 1 while taking advantage of new features and functionality from Office 365. Many plan options available include all the features that came with Skype for Business Online Plan 1, as well as IM and presence, peer-to-peer audio and video over IP, and the ability to join meetings as an authenticated user.

S kype for Business Online Plan 2 retired from sale

Skype for Business Online Plan 2 retired from sale on July 1, 2019. This means that you will no longer be able to acquire Skype for Business Online Plan 2 for instant messaging, presence, meetings, and peer-to-peer voice and video. These features will continue to be supported in all plans that include Teams, including Office 365 suites.

When your plan expires at the end of your current term, to have continued access to these features, you'll have to switch to a different plan. We recommend that you evaluate the Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Business Premium, or any other Office suites for users that currently have Skype for Business Online Plan 2 assigned.

How to purchase Microsoft Teams License?

Microsoft Teams may be used without cost but with extremely limited functionality. The free version of it comes with certain limitations of meeting time span, small cloud storage etc.

Apart from  the Free version ,  it comes along with any of the Office 365 or Microsoft 365 Plans and is not available as a standalone license option.

To acquire Teams Licenses, you’d primarily have two options to go with. Microsoft 365 Business Plans or Microsoft 365/Office 365 Enterprise Plans . We do get both the Licenses i.e., Skype for Business Online Plan 2 and Microsoft Teams License within each package as shown in screenshot below for Office 365 E3.

Last Updated 2 months ago

About the Author

Ateeb is a Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate. He aids clients in deployment, and management of Microsoft technologies - for both, on-premises and on the cloud environment. With significant experience in deploying stand-alone and enterprise solutions, Ateeb enjoys helping organizations with their digital transformation journey.

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Skype for Business Online Plan 2 standalone is being retired from sale July 1st, 2019

Skype for Business Online Plan 2 is being retired from sale as of July 1, 2019. If you are using any of these licences, you will receive an Office 365 message centre message. When your SfB Online Plan 2’s expire at the end of your current term, in order to have continued access to these features, you’ll have to switch to a different plan.

SfB Online Plan 2 was an Office 365 SKU which just included the Skype for Business Online core service, not an Office client (users could use the SfB Basic client free) or a bundle of other services. It has been pretty clear for some time Microsoft are moving away from selling individual Office 365 services in favour of bundles.

Sometimes people would use these to licence room systems (adding Microsoft Phone System and a Calling Plan), rather than buying a more expensive E3 or E5 licence which includes features not needed by a room system. Microsoft now have a specific licence for room systems.

Skype for Business Online Service Description

About the author

A Microsoft MVP and Microsoft Certified Master, Tom Arbuthnot is Founder and Principal at Empowering.Cloud as well as a Solutions Director at Pure IP.

Tom stays up to date with industry developments and shares news and his opinions on his Tomtalks.blog, UC Today Microsoft Teams Podcast and email list. He is a regular speaker at events around the world.

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How to upgrade from Skype for Business to Microsoft Teams

Here's how to upgrade from Skype for Business to Microsoft Teams

Step One: Notify users of the change

Step two: set your upgrade settings, step three: prepare your upgrade environment, step four: complete the readiness questionnaire, step five: optimize your network, step six: conduct a user pilot.

Microsoft Teams may be hugely popular now, but it hasn't always been the company's flagship video calling service.

In fact, many organizations had just started getting to grips with Skype for Business when Microsoft announced that the software would be retired. In July of this year, support for Skype for Business Online officially ended, leaving many firms scrambling to upgrade to Microsoft Teams. 

Although it’s always a little annoying when you’re forced to upgrade to a new program, businesses will gain access to several new collaboration and productivity features by switching to Microsoft Teams. The fact that Teams brings together chat, meetings, calling, collaboration, app integration, and cloud storage into a single interface is a huge bonus. 

However, if the prospect of leaving Skype for Business behind remains a little daunting, then you’re in luck. This straightforward guide will show you how to upgrade from Skype for Business to Microsoft Teams in no time.

Although this step is optional, it is a good idea to inform your employees of any changes to their current video conferencing tools - particularly with remote meetings becoming more popular of late. 

You can achieve this by visiting the Microsoft Teams admin center, selecting "Org-wide settings”, and clicking on “Teams upgrade.” Under Coexistence mode, change the “Notify Skype for Business users that an upgrade to Teams is available” switch to On.

At the start of your Microsoft Teams migration journey, you’ll want to determine whether you’d like your employees to be able to continue using Skype for Business (coexistence) or exclusively use Microsoft Teams. In addition, you can implement your choice for your entire organization or for individual users. 

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To set upgrade options for your entire organization, visit the Microsoft Teams admin center, then click on “Org-wide setting” and “Teams upgrade.” You can then modify your settings across various coexistence modes or choose “Only Teams.”

For individual users, click on “Users” in the left navigation bar, select your chosen user from the list, visit the relevant “Account” tab and, under Teams upgrade, click Edit to set your upgrade setting. 

Teams combines multiple Microsoft 365 services, and, as a result, is dependent on the correct implementation of these services in order to function properly. These include SharePoint Online, Exchange Online, OneDrive for Business, and others. Although not all of these are required, Microsoft advises that they are all implemented and correctly configured. 

Microsoft has compiled a questionnaire to help confirm your organization's readiness for Teams deployment. The areas that this questionnaire touches upon include: Microsoft 365 organization details, existing collaboration platform summary; collaboration platform deployment details, networking and access to Microsoft 365 services, endpoints, operations, and adoption readiness. 

If your network is already optimized for Office 365 or Microsoft 365, then it is probably ready for your Teams upgrade. However, Microsoft offers several network guidance tips if you have not used its services before or are experiencing less than optimal performance from Teams. 

Before formally launching the upgrade across your organization, it’s a good idea to conduct a user pilot first. This helps validate technical and user readiness, identify any issues, and help ensure a successful company-wide implementation. Identify your pilot participants, design your test plan, and then the pilot can begin. If all goes well, it’s time to roll-out Teams across the company!

Barclay has been writing about technology for a decade, starting out as a freelancer with ITProPortal covering everything from London’s start-up scene to comparisons of the best cloud storage services.  After that, he spent some time as the managing editor of an online outlet focusing on cloud computing, furthering his interest in virtualization, Big Data, and the Internet of Things. 

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Skype for Business to Microsoft Teams Upgrade

Whether you’re just getting started with Microsoft Teams, already using Teams alongside Skype for Business, or ready to upgrade, we want to ensure you have everything you need to navigate a successful journey to Teams. Plan both technical and organizational readiness and download customizable assets such as a sample project plan, user communications, feedback surveys, and more.

Steps on your adoption journey

Get started, engage your org, train your org, connect with communities, why upgrade to microsoft teams.

Microsoft Teams extends the capabilities of Skype for Business, bringing together chat, meetings, calling, collaboration, app integration, and file storage into a single interface. This new central hub for teamwork can help streamline the way users get things done, improving user satisfaction and accelerating business outcomes.

Teams upgrade planning workshops

During our upgrade planning workshops, we will share guidance, best practices and resources designed to help you plan and implement your upgrade to Teams. For an optimal experience, start with the Plan your upgrade session below. Click any workshop to access content on demand. ​

Plan your upgrade (Start here!)

Whether you're upgrading to Teams ahead of the retirement of Skype for Business Online (July 31, 2021) or moving scenarios from your Skype for Business on-premises environment to Teams, a successful transition addresses both technical and user readiness. Discover our proven framework, best practices, and resources designed to help you facilitate a successful transition to Teams from Skype for Business Online. Skype for Business Server, or a hybrid environment.

Audience – All (Business sponsors, IT admins, user readiness/change manager, project lead)

Implement your upgrade approach

Join us to identify and prepare to execute the best technical approach for moving all workloads to Teams, based on your goals and your current Skype for Business environment. Most customers who have completed successful transition have enabled Teams alongside their current Skype for Business Online, Skype for Business Server, or hybrid implementation. This session will share key considerations and valuable resources to help you define the best migration strategy for your organization.

Audience – IT admins

Join us for a series of live, interactive upgrade planning workshops, where we’ll share guidance, best practices and resources designed to help you plan and implement your upgrade to Teams. For an optimal experience, start with the Plan your upgrade session below. Click any workshop below to register for live sessions or access on demand.

Plan your upgrade

Discover everything you need to facilitate a successful upgrade to Teams. Audience - All (Business sponsors, IT admins, user readiness/change manager, project lead)

Ready your end users

Design a user readiness strategy to help your users love and adopt Teams. Audience - User readiness/change manager

Identify your upgrade approach

Determine the most suitable approach based on your current Skype for Business implementation and upgrade goals. Audience - IT admins

Execute your defined upgrade approach as part of your formal upgrade plan. Audience - IT admins

Is there a firm deadline by which customers need to move from Skype for Business Online to Teams?

Yes.  Skype for Business Online will be retired  on July 31, 2021, at which point it will no longer be accessible or supported. We encourage Skype for Business Online customers to start using Teams and begin planning their upgrades now to allow ample time to complete upgrade prior to the retirement date.

How long will it take to upgrade my organization to Teams?

Your organization’s journey from Skype for Business to Teams can be defined by you. To assist in your planning and execution, we’ve developed comprehensive upgrade guidance based upon a proven framework designed to help you navigate the technical and organizational elements of change. Start your journey by familiarizing yourself with our  upgrade success framework  and associated resources that serve as the cornerstone for navigating your journey from Skype for Business to Teams.

Is there a recommended upgrade path for Skype for Business?

We encourage you to plan the journey from Skype for Business to Teams leveraging the guidance and resources at  aka.ms/SkypetoTeams  and attend a free  upgrade planning workshop  to identify and implement the upgrade path that best meets the needs of your organization.

Where can I learn more about coexistence modes in the Microsoft Teams admin center?

Within the Microsoft Teams admin center, you’ll notice options for coexistence modes, enabling your organization to manage the Skype for Business to Teams journey that’s right for your organization. Learn more about  coexistence and upgrade modes .

What should I do to prepare for my upgrade?

A successful upgrade will include validating technical readiness in addition to user acceptance readiness. Even if you determine your organization isn’t quite ready to upgrade to Teams, you can begin the planning process today. Further, you can start realizing the value of Teams by enabling Teams alongside Skype for Business. Get started on your [Skype to Teams journey[(https://aka.ms/skypetoteams-home) today.

Microsoft also offers live, interactive workshops in which we’ll share guidance, best practices, and resources designed to kick start upgrade planning and implementation.  Learn about upgrade planning workshops .

My organization is already running Teams alongside Skype for Business. Can I just disable Skype for Business?

No, you’ll want to switch users to Teams Only mode to complete the upgrade to Teams. If your organization is ready to upgrade to Teams, take time to communicate to users to let them know what’s happening and allow them to acclimate to Teams. This will help ensure they have a positive upgrade experience and help alleviate calls to your helpdesk. For sample communication templates, download our  Upgrade Success Kit .

Who can I contact if I have questions about the upgrade process?

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Skype for Business replacement: Top 12 tools

Businesses are investing in robust communication tools to foster quick exchanges among team members, vendors, customers, clients, and more. Skype for Business has remained one of the popular video conferencing tools for several years. 

However, Skype for Business was retired on January 9 , 2024 . This has motivated businesses to look for an effective Skype for Business replacement that offers similar capabilities or exceeds them. 

In this blog, we have covered the top 12 replacement tools along with their key features. 

Why look for a Skype for Business replacement?

Here are some of the important reasons why you should look for an alternative to Skype for Business . 

1. Retirement of Skype for Business

While Skype remained at the forefront of the communication landscape, Microsoft has announced the retirement of Skype for Business services and Microsoft Teams as the official replacement . However, several other platforms have better capabilities and innovative features than Skype and MS Teams. 

2. Data security and compliance

Also, with increasing cases of data breaches, security and compliance are paramount. This is especially true for organizations functioning in highly regulated industries like healthcare, defense, and government. 

In that case, prioritize communication tools with advanced security features like multi-factor authentication and customized user access controls. 

3. Lacks omnichannel abilities

Though Skype for Business had advanced video conferencing features , it lacked omnichannel capabilities. Switching from one channel to another results in higher employee burnout rates and impacts their productivity. 

So, if you seek omnichannel experience, you must explore an effective Skype for Business replacement. 

12 top communication tools you could use as Skype for Business replacement

Here are the top communication tools you must consider when exploring Skype for Business replacement. 

1. Rocket.Chat

Rocket.Chat is a secure, open-sourced chat platform for omnichannel customer collaboration and team communication . Known for offering integrated voice, video, and text abilities, Rocket.Chat can be considered a genuine Skype for Business replacement . It can be deployed on-premises and in air-gapped environments. 

In terms of security, it has more advanced abilities like role-based access, MIT open source license, and BITV 2.0 compliance. This makes Rocket.Chat an ideal platform for encrypted messaging in security-conscious organizations , operating in industries such as government, defense, and healthcare. 

For businesses looking to make their brand presence known, it can also be white-labeled to match your distinct brand identity. 

Key features

• Open source software
• End-to-end encryption
• On-premises and air-gapped deployment
• Omnichannel communication
• Customizable user roles
• Unlimited channels and discussions

Get started with Rocket.Chat’s secure collaboration platform

With VoIP features and end-to-end encryption, Element has evolved to be a good replacement for MS Teams and Skype for Business. It can be integrated with a wide range of business applications. As Element is based on the Matrix open standard, it is interoperable with Matrix-centric messenger. 

The Element app can be deployed on-premises, self-hosted, or private cloud based on security needs. Team members can engage in threaded conversations and seek attention to a subject by highlighting the message in bold or italics.  

• 1:1 and group voice and video calls
• File and screen sharing
• End-to-end encryption by default
• Voice messaging
• Read receipts and emojis
• Flexible deployment options

Chanty is one of the most preferred platforms for video calling, messaging, and task management. It allows 49 videos on screen and 1000 participants. Participants can share screens and files to promote quicker exchanges and immersive discussions.

Chanty allows context-based, threaded conversations when there is a need to discuss a specific topic. What makes it and interesting Skype for Business replacement are the project management features. The Kanban board simplifies task management by helping teams track status and monitor updates.

• Group audio and video calls
• In-built task manager
• Pin important messages
• Threaded messages
• Kanban board

4. TroopMessenger

Troop Messenger is a popular collaboration platform with integrated text, voice, and video capabilities. It offers a mobile and desktop application to support businesses with a remote workforce. It offers a chat API that can be integrated into your website or existing business application. 

The app allows team members to exchange text and voice notes. It also has bulk messaging capabilities, where users can send messages and share attachments with a larger audience group. Troop Messenger supports screen sharing, and team members do not need host permissions to initiate screen sharing. 

Troop Messenger is a good replacement for Skype for Business if you're looking for extra security features needed to communicate extremely safely.

• Audio and video conferencing
• Virtual whiteboard
• Flag important messages
• Instant messaging
• Live location tracking
• Advanced search filters
• Mute conversations and respond to later options

5. Cisco Webex

Cisco Webex is a video-first collaboration tool that helps foster quick communication between teams in different locations. It is known for its high image and video quality. It can be easily integrated with other Webex tools, such as contact centers, workplace optimization, and third-party tools like Slack and Salesforce. 

Webex has an in-app chat and supports polling. It allows sharing files and documents without sharing your screen. The communication is end-to-end encrypted, making it more appropriate for organizations with security concerns. 

Key Features

• Whiteboard and sticky notes
• Text and drawing tools
• AI-assisted translation
• Live motion video
• Background noise cancellation
• Meeting transcripts

Hive is an integrated platform for project management, team collaboration, time management, automation, and business analytics . Its video conferencing and voice abilities allow remote business teams to collaborate seamlessly. 

Hive Notes allows team members can edit the document in real time during and after the meeting. Users can initiate a video meeting directly from chat, make notes, and chart further steps.

• Task management
• Integration with Google Drive, DropBox, and more
• Direct and group messaging
• Time management tools
• Notes and meeting summary

Slack is one of the most popular collaboration tools used by business teams. Though it is a messaging-centered platform, Slack has advanced voice and video capabilities. It also has advanced search, screen, and file-sharing capabilities. 

Moreover, Slack integrates well with over 2,400+ business tools and can help automate your workflow. 

On Slack, team members can convene a meeting directly from the chat. They can initiate one-on-one and topic-based channel discussions. If your workplace demands regular coordination and communication, Slack can be a suitable Skype for Business replacement.  

• Automated reminders
• Channels and threaded conversation
• Translation support for 10 languages
• Meeting transcription and recording
• Access to full message history

Wire is one of the most secure collaboration platforms for businesses . It has advanced features for voice messaging, text messaging, and video calls. It is open-source software and can be customized to a greater degree. Wire provides on-premises and cloud deployment and so works well for organizations that demand data sovereignty. 

Wire allows secure video and audio conferencing for up to 100 participants. It can be accessed on web, desktop, and mobile applications. Business teams can collaborate with external vendors using its ‘guest room’ feature, which is also end-to-end encrypted. Its security features make Wire a good Skype for Business replacement after its retirement.

• Group and one-on-one messaging
• File sharing
• Self-destruct messages for privacy
• Voice and video conferencing
• On-premises and cloud deployment

Zoom is a cloud-based collaboration platform that facilitates communication via voice and video. Participants can use chat to communicate one-on-one or in group meetings. It allows hosts to start an instant meeting or schedule one at a fixed time later. The free service allows 100 participants, but the time is limited to 40 minutes. 

Zoom can be accessed via desktop, mobile app, or web browsers. In Zoom video meetings, business teams can exchange their ideas quickly and effectively by whiteboarding and screen sharing. 

Organizations should be aware that Zoom is a video-first platform , and as such is a specific kind of tool to replace Skype for Business.

Key features 

• HD video and audio quality
• In-app chat functionality
• Meeting summary
• Multi-language support
• Whiteboarding
• Screen share controls

Ryver is a collaboration platform with built-in management tools. Similar to Skype for Business, It allows instant, one-on-one, and group messaging. The platform also has forums that promote open discussion between team members. Ryver offers advanced security for login and data storage.  

With an extensive suite of features for productivity management and team collaboration, Ryver helps streamline end-to-end business tasks and avoid switching between multiple channels.  

• Video and voice calls
• Secure login methods
• File sharing and screen sharing
• Advanced search
• Topic-oriented discussions

11. RingCentral

RingCentral is a popular Skype for Business replacement supporting omnichannel communication across voice, video, and chat . It has advanced AI features that enhance the quality of voice and video meetings. 

RingCentral has an interactive whiteboard that allows for an immersive experience. Team members can access RingCentral using browser, desktop, and mobile applications.  It is also a popular VoIP-based phone system and instant messaging platform with advanced call management features. 

• Innovative telephony features
• Break-out rooms for focused discussions
• Single click scheduling
• Live chat and voice abilities
• Auto attendants and IVR
• Email and calendar integration

12. MS Teams

Microsoft Teams is a leading collaboration tool and an official recommendation for replacing Skype for Business . An evaluation of Skype vs. Teams shows that the latter has more advanced features for messaging, calling, and video meetings. 

MS Teams works best with other Microsoft products, including Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Recently, Teams was unbundled from the rest of the Office globally. It syncs with the Calendar and lets team members schedule appointments and meetings quickly. They can also upload and access files across OneDrive and Sharepoint. 

• Seamless Microsoft 365 integration
• Threaded conversations
• Sharepoint storage for documents
• Calendar sync and appointment scheduling
• Project-specific thread
• Custom access controls

Secure, compliant Skype for Business replacement

As Skype for Business retires, businesses are looking for an effective replacement. Though several platforms have similar or exceeding features to Skype, you must choose the right one. 

Rocket.Chat works best if you are exploring a flexible and collaborative Skype for Business replacement. It is one of the most secure messaging apps and encrypted collaboration tools with custom user roles and multi-factor authentication to ensure secure communication. 

As it is open source, the team communication app can be customized to meet specific business needs.  

Rocket.Chat is a GDPR-compliant messaging tool. It also complies with industry-specific laws like HIPAA. It supports on-premises and air-gapped deployment which is a prerequisite for organizations operating in highly regulated industries. 

To learn more, contact Rocket.Chat team.

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What is the perfect skype for business replacement.

It's been almost two years since Microsoft announced their plan to replace Skype for Business with the new collaboration tool, Microsoft Teams.

Though Microsoft Teams is the fastest-growing tool ever to arrive as part of the Microsoft ecosystem, that doesn't necessarily mean you and your company will feel comfortable using it instead of Skype. After all, we all have our own unique preferences when it comes to collaboration tools.

For now, Microsoft won't be forcing anyone to leave the Skype for Business environment straight away. However, if you haven't started planning the next step in your roadmap yet, now is the time to start.

Table of Contents

• Migrating away from Skype for Business 

1. Determine what your employees need

2. get your team involved, 3. evaluate a wide selection of options.

• 4. Consider software integrations 

5. Measure the impact

 go to meeting, cisco webex teams, viber for business, migrating away from skype for business  .

Skype for Business has been a part of the Microsoft portfolio since the 11th of November 2014 .

The application appeared on the marketplace as a replacement for Lync and offered companies an easy way to manage communication via instant messaging , video calls, and more.

Today, many organizations still look at Skype for Business as the go-to service for collaboration - particularly if they're already familiar with the Microsoft productivity suite. However, as the workplace has evolved, Microsoft has recognized a need for new features and functionality. By introducing Teams and replacing Skype for Business, the Microsoft brand is updating its collaboration solution to provide everything from call management, to artificial intelligence.

So, does that mean that everyone who uses Skype for Business should automatically move to Microsoft Teams? 

Not necessarily.

There are plenty of other great tools out there that may deliver a better experience depending on your individual needs. Just look at Troop Messenger, for instance, this user-friendly team chat app is a simple and accessible way to keep teams connected.

With Troop, you can:

• Find crucial files instantly
• Rely on a secure breach-proof code to keep your chat safe
• Integrate your experience with third-party apps for a DIY solution
• Get helpful support from a committed team
• Chat and communicate seamlessly in real-time.

How to choose a Skype for Business Replacement  

According to surveys by the Institute for Corporate Productivity, 22% of companies rely on real-time collaboration solutions for online meetings and consistent communication. The right software gives your employees more than just real-time messaging; it also ensures that everyone in your team can stay on the same page, regardless of where they are.

As the demand for collaboration tools continues to rise, transitioning away from Skype for Business can't be a passive experience for modern brands. Just like any other major investment, it's important to consider all of your options.

Here are a few of the crucial steps you'll need to take when choosing a Skype for Business replacement.

Implementing the best collaboration or enterprise chat tool isn't just about choosing the software with the latest technology or best price tag. You'll need to think about the problems you want to solve for your team. For instance, if your remote workers often feel isolated from the rest of the team, an app that prioritizes video conferencing might be a good choice.

If you're concerned that you won't be able to keep your globally-dispersed workforce on the same page, a collaborative tool that allows employees to track changes to recent projects, set deadlines, and assign tasks may be helpful.

Find out how your employees work, what they struggle with each day, and what they need to become more productive and efficient.

Even if most of your employees use Skype for Business to stay connected to their coworkers, there's a good chance that there are a handful of people out there using different tools. As mentioned above, today's team member has their own personal preferences when it comes to collaboration tools. Asking for insights from your workers will help you to find out which software they already like or feel comfortable using.

Getting your team involved with choosing the right collaborative tools will help you to plan your new investment based on what your employees want and need. For instance, ask your teams to list the kind of tools they like using or provide information based on the software they've tried in the past.

Often, when companies have been using something like Skype for Business for an extended period, it's easy to feel tied to a specific product portfolio. If you're already used to Microsoft software, then migrating to Microsoft Teams might seem like the easiest option.

However, the truth is that since implementing Skype for Business, there's a good chance that your needs and expectations for collaboration tools have changed. That's why it's crucial to check out all of the options available on the market, before committing to something just because it's familiar. Shortlist solutions that match your requirements and focus on finding the right mixture of available features, ease of use, and scalability. Ideally, the right collaboration tool will allow you to add and remove features as your business changes.

4. Consider software integrations  

Another point to consider when you're looking for a replacement to Skype for Business is what kind of integrations you'll need. Collaboration tools make up a crucial part of the Unified Communication environment for your business. However, your company can't be truly unified if your employee's favourite software doesn't work alongside their enterprise chat tools.

Think about the CRM and ERP systems your people use every day. Will your new collaboration software work hand-in-hand with those tools? Can you implement the analytics software you rely on each day into your enterprise chat so that people can comment on your findings?

Integrations allow for more efficient workflows in virtually any business environment. Make sure your chosen application plays well with others. You could even look at combining various enterprise chat tools using a syncing tool like Mio.

Remember, when you do implement a new tool into your business environment, no matter whether it's a collaboration app or a new analytics service, it's important to measure the results. Roll your team tool out to a few select users at first and see how they respond to it. A free or trial version of some of your shortlisted apps will come in handy here.

The more comfortable your people feel using the tools you offer to replace Skype for Business, the less likely they'll be to seek out alternative solutions on their own. The last thing you want is issues with shadow IT to worry about when you aim to reduce silos in your workplace.

What is the Best Skype for a Business alternative?

Now that you know how to assess your Skype for Business alternatives, it's time to start looking at your options.

There are dozens of potential enterprise chat tools to choose from on the market today. Here are just some of the best-known and most popular options that previous Skype for Business users might want to try:

Created by the Go To brand, GoToMeeting is one of the best-known collaboration tools on the market today.

The app earned a reputation for simplicity and accessibility, by giving businesses a way to connect with colleagues, contractors, and customers with nothing but a custom link.

With GoToMeeting, you can schedule conferences for any time or place you choose. Additionally, attendees can join from a computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone. There's even support for HD video conferencing for up to 25 people per session.

Some of the features you can expect from GoToMeeting include:

• Personal meeting rooms
• One-click conference sessions
• HD video conferencing
• Desktop or mobile access
• Desktop/Application sharing
• Virtual whiteboarding

Cisco Webex Teams is the natural step into cloud collaboration for users of Cisco Jabber.

Formerly Cisco Spark, Webex Teams offers full team messaging functionality. This includes one-to-one persistent chat, team messaging, and interactive meetings inclusive of Cisco whiteboard experiences familiar to users of the Cisco Spark Board, now the Webex Teams board.

For users with Cisco VoIP handsets, conferencing solutions, and telepresence devices, Webex Teams integrates with most devices in the portfolio to provide a streamlined, consistent experience.

New features recently announced for Webex Teams include:

• People insights
• Live motion video
• Share anywhere with Webex Share
• New VDI client
• Improved video

Slack is often touted as the pioneer of team messaging. As one of the first persistent chat platforms, Slack has the upper hand when it comes to user experience and integrations as they’ve had longer to experiment and get it right.

Even down to the recently introduced Slack dark mode, Slack is always striving to improve its look and feel.

Another recent introduction is Enterprise Key Management (EKM). This has been introduced to satisfy the security requirements of large enterprises that had previous concerns over data retention.

Slack describes EKM as “providing all of the security of an on-premise solution, with all the benefits of a cloud tool.”

Key features of Slack include:

• Automated reminders
• Task list management
• Custom shortcuts
• Many, many bot integrations
• Search channels for keywords and important documents

Viber for Business completes the Skype for Business alternatives when looking for a collaboration or team chat environment.

Viber should be considered for businesses that have a large presence in Russia or the APAC region.

Viber’s consumer app has over 1 million users and users will benefit from the familiar look and feel – remind anyone of Skype before Skype for Business?

Key features of Viber for Business include:

• HD voice and video
• Texts, photos, GIFs, and stickers
• Voice and video clips that can be sent later
• Call recording

Hive combines a unique blend of project management and team collaboration to provide teams the ability to manage their projects in the way they work best.

Configurable views are available to switch easily to ultimate flexibility.

Supporting Gantt, Kanban, and an assortment of tables, Hive then integrates into over 1000 other productivity apps like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Marketo.

Key features include:

• Direct and Group Messaging (Private and Public Groups)
• Task Management
• File Integration with Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, and One Drive
• Email Integration

This is a starter for 10. Well, 5 actually.

Author Bio: 

Dominic Kent is the Director of Content Marketing and Communications at Mio . Mio powers seamless communication between workplace chat apps like Slack , Cisco Webex Teams, and Microsoft Teams.

Collaborate better with Troop Messenger!

[email protected]

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Unified communications plan with advanced capabilities including enterprise Instant Messaging, Presence and online meetings with audio and video conferencing and multiparty data sharing.

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Assign Skype for Business licenses

• 16 contributors
• Applies to: Skype for Business

Skype for Business Online operated by 21Vianet in China will be retired on October 1, 2023. If you haven't upgraded your Skype for Business Online users yet, they will be automatically scheduled for an assisted upgrade . If you want to upgrade your organization to Teams yourself, we strongly recommend that you begin planning your upgrade path today. Remember that a successful upgrade aligns technical and user readiness, so be sure to leverage our upgrade guidance as you navigate your journey to Teams.

Skype for Business Online, excluding the service operated by 21Vianet in China, was retired on July 31, 2021.

This article gives you tips about assigning licenses to your users for features like Audio Conferencing, Phone System, and Calling Plans. It also provides scripts for assigning licenses in bulk.

See Skype for Business add-on licensing for information about what licenses you need to buy and how to buy them - depending on your Microsoft 365 or Office 365 plan - so users get Audio Conferencing, toll-free numbers, and the ability to call phone numbers outside your business.

Phone System and Calling Plans: Tips and scripts for assigning licenses

What you need to know before assigning Audio Conferencing, Phone System and Calling Plan licenses

Using on-premises PSTN connectivity for hybrid users? If so, you only need to assign a Phone System license. You should NOT assign a Calling Plan.

Latency after assigning licenses : Because of the latency between Microsoft 365 or Office 365 and Skype for Business Online, it can possibly take up to 24 hours for a user to be assigned a Calling Plan after you assign a license. If after 24 hours the user isn't assigned a Calling Plan, please Contact support for business products - Admin Help .

Error messages : You will get an error message if you haven't purchased the correct number of licenses. If you need to buy more Calling Plan licenses, choose Buy more .

Next steps : After you assign Calling Plan licenses to your users, you will need to get your phone numbers for your organization, and then assign those numbers to the people in your organization. For step-by-step instructions, see Set up Calling Plans .

How to assign a Phone System and Calling Plan license to one user

The steps are the same as assigning a Microsoft 365 or Office 365 license. See Assign or remove licenses for Microsoft 365 for business .

How to assign Phone System and Calling Plan licenses in bulk

Install the Microsoft Online Services Sign-In Assistant for IT Professionals RTW . Don't have the module installed? See Microsoft Online Services Sign-In Assistant for IT Professionals RTW to download it.

Install the Windows Azure Active Directory module. Don't have the module installed? See Manage Microsoft Entra ID using Windows PowerShell for download instructions and cmdlet syntax.

Once you get the modules installed, use the Windows PowerShell command prompt and the following syntax to assign the licenses to your users:

This example assigns an Enterprise E3 license along with a Phone System and a Domestic Calling Plan license.

The name of the licenses or product names in the script are listed in italics text (see Phone System and Calling Plan product names or SKUs used for scripting , after the example).

Phone System and Calling Plans product names or SKUs used for scripting

Audio conferencing: tips and scripts for assigning licenses, what you need to know before assigning audio conferencing licenses.

Third-party audio conferencing provider : If someone is already set up to use a third-party audio conferencing provider, when you assign them an Audio Conferencing license, they will be changed to use Microsoft as the audio conferencing provider. You can change them back to the third-party provider.

Next steps: After you assign Audio Conferencing licenses, you need to assign an audio conferencing provider. See [Assign Microsoft as the audio conferencing provider].

How to assign an Audio Conferencing license to one user

How to assign audio conferencing licenses in bulk.

Download and install Microsoft Online Services Sign-In Assistant for IT Professionals RTW .

Download and install the Windows Azure Active Directory module. See Manage Microsoft Entra ID using Windows PowerShell for download instructions and cmdlet syntax.

The name of the licenses or product names in the script are listed in italics text. See Audio Conferencing product names or SKUs used for scripting for all of the product names.

This example assigns an Enterprise E3 license along with an Audio Conferencing license.

Audio Conferencing product names or SKUs used for scripting

Communications credits, what you need to know before assigning communications credits licenses.

Enterprise E5 customers : Even if your users are assigned Enterprise E5 licenses, we still recommend that you assign them Communications Credits licenses.

Next steps : After you assign these licenses, you will need to get your phone numbers for your organization, and then assign those numbers to the people in your organization. For step-by-step instructions, see Set up Calling Plans .

How to assign a Communications Credits license to one user

How to assign communications credits licenses in bulk.

Take a look at the sample script for assigning Audio Conferencing licenses. Update it with the info for assigning Communications Credits licenses.

Related topics

Set up Calling Plans

Add funds and manage Communications Credits

Additional resources

Skype Forum Top Contributors: Ruwim.B  -  Techfreak_   ✅

May 10, 2024

Skype Forum Top Contributors:

Ruwim.B  -  Techfreak_   ✅

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April 9, 2024

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Click  here  to learn more  💡

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Skype for Business Plan 2 - Does it come with the ability to dial-in to conferences with a standard phone rather than the Skype for Business app?

I currently have the basic Skype for Business as part of an Office365 E3 subscription.

Currently I and all of my conference participants must use the Skype for Business app to access a conference audio or video call.  If I add the Plan2 on ($5.50/mo) will I or my conference participant get the ability to either call in using a traditional phone or have the service call me (or a conference participant) as part of the plan or is that yet another add-on?  If it is another add-on, which one specifically?

If that capability is yet another add-on, what do I actually get from the Plan2 that I don't already have with the basic E3 subscription.  The documentation is not very clear at all about this.

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This function is formally called Audio Conferencing. Audio Conferencing is available as a part of the Office 365 Enterprise E5 subscription or available on a pay-per-minute basis as an add-on to Office 365 E1 or E3 subscription. So if you are using a E3 plan, you need to buy additional add-on to enable this feature.

And here is an introduction article: https://products.office.com/en-us/skype-for-business/audio-conferencing#requirements .

Here is an article about how to set up it: https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Set-up-Audio-Conferencing-for-Skype-for-Business-and-Microsoft-Teams-d01954f1-4f37-4cf5-a636-20039e5c59e9 .

Besides, here is an article about the enabled function with E3 plan and comparison with othes plans:  https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/skype-for-business-online-service-description.aspx

For further questions, feel free to let me know.

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So I do have the E3. Is this Audio Conferencing feature in addition to or in place of the Skype for Business Plan 2 (meaning the the two have different, non-overlapping features?) or is SfBP2 a prerequisite for AC?

Now that you have explained this, it looks like the SfBP2 functionality is more meeting management oriented, correct?

It looks like this feature is $4/mo base plus minutes. Correct?

Nowadays, I just want to provide a basic US dial-in number (no Toll free) and maybe have dial-out capability within the US but this might not even be necessary.  I also need to figure out how to use the pricing calculator and the different definitions. 

Is all of this Audio Conferencing capability self-provisioning from the Admin console (allocating Dial-In numbers and flipping the switch on dial-out features)?

Audio Conferencing is more like an additional function to Skype for Business Plan 2.

Yes, you can understand it this way since the enhanced function compared to Plan 1 is more about meeting.

No, it’s different based on your detailed requirement such as regions. You can check it in the first link’s See rates for where you want to call .

For the last question, it’s configured in the admin center, but you need to manually configure it for some steps such as assign the provider to people in your organization , about the detailed information please check the second link, it will teach you step by step to achieve the configuration.

Hi Mark, 

Do you need my further assistance?

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