Mitel MiCollab vs. Skype for Business / Lync (discontinued)

If you're in an area that has highly trained technicians to support the Mitel MiCollab product - I think your experience will likely be much better than ours. In my opinion, Frontier (and Integra before them) were the worst, and we do not look back on that experience with much happiness.

Incentivized

Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams is a remote/virtual team collaboration tool must have...especially if you already use Microsoft tools. Of course, since it now part of an MS 365 subscription, it really doesn't make sense to use anything else. It is easy to use and just works. I'm not sure how anyone who works with digital files/documents and needs to work with other people doing similar work can be effective without such a tool. Of course, there are a number of alternatives like Zoom or Webex, but why pay or use another separate tool if you don't need to. :-)

Incentivized

• Easy to use interface for non technical users.
• Lots of options to setup for end users.
• Headsets are comfortable and better than old handsets with desk phones. MiCollab allows users more comfortable phone calls.
• Call quality is great.
• Chat feature is great.

Incentivized

• Instant messaging to anyone who we know only by name/email. Even if they're offline, they get the message in missed convos and a notification automatically goes to them via Outlook mail. All conversations are saved and accessible via Outlook.
• Video and voice calls are a norm in the WFH scenario, and an average employee has around 4-5 calls a day. Skype gives notifications for upcoming meetings, allows easy scheduling via outlook calendar, and its audio/video quality [is] reasonably good compared to the amount of data it consumes.
• Status availabilities - in the WFH scenario, you could be off for lunch, out of office, busy, sharing screens - and might not want to be disturbed. Skype allows you to do that, and in case you're off, ensures that you know that you have missed messages.
• Screen sharing - we have to share screens at least once or twice a day with a coworker when working on some issues/features, and Skype easily lets us do that. One of the best things about Skype is that the screen can be shared without being on a video/voice call - which is of immense advantage because oftentimes, you could prefer sharing the screen, while it [is] too noisy to talk.

• The setup for the twinning feature was a bit confusing and took me a while to successfully complete the task.
• The UX, particularly on an older iPhone could be improved.
• Overall, the product is rather sound, and I am pleased with my experience using it.

Incentivized

• Connection issues can be hard to diagnose when they come up(as some knowledge of server information may be needed to reestablish as the connection troubleshooting options on the sky are not as user-friendly as the rest of the platform.
• Some issues setting up camera/sound could use more info on troubleshooting options with playback sound, video, etc.
• Statuses sometimes are unreliable and do not display correctly .

Incentivized

The software is simple to install and configure. It is rather simple to explain for correct use. It is possible to profile users for the different functions offered. It is integrated quite completely with Outlook and with Active Directory security. It performs all communication functions well with one or more interlocutors and the possibility of granting control of your computer is convenient.

Incentivized

It is easy to you for existig Mitel UC users, who are familiar with the Mitel way of things, but for green field enterprises, might be a ramp up period which in most cases would not be worth it as its competitor TEAMS is much easier and intuity to use.

Incentivized

Very easy to use. Even though Microsoft Teams has a lot of features and integrations, as a user I feel completely comfortable on finding what I need, getting information about the app extensions and using them. It's a very comprehensive tool, intuitive design and does not make me feel tired to be using it. I am glad with the current experience.

Initially, support from Mitel was fantastic, but recently it has started to lag significantly. Response takes 8 hours, at a minimum, usually requiring a second call to spur a response. Email support is even worse (email in a ticket) - I have had to call in to get things running the 3 times I've tried to email support.

Incentivized

I have only had to reach out to the Support team at Skype for Business once with an issue, and I was pleasantly surprised and encouraged by the quickness and thoroughness of their response. The wait time was short and my question was dealt with politely and clearly, so I would say the support team has it together.

Incentivized

Skpe for business is utilized company wide in regards to my company. Everyone not only uses it, but uses it often. It is an effective way of communicating. It also integrates very nicely with outlook and all conversation history is pushed to a folder within the outlook system. We also have it so that if someone misses a message, they are sent an email reminder saying that there is a message that went unread.

Incentivized

MiCollab was great as a VOIP solution and general team collaboration solution, but it lacked in some areas, such as the mobile app, complex configuration and set up as well as the lack of user customization. Overall, the system is serviceable, but seemed rather vanilla compared to its competitors

Incentivized

For the below reason I will always choose this app over its competitors: Better audio and video quality, Little to no disconnections or freezing when on a call/video conference Integrates well with mailbox/ calendar/ one drive, and SharePoint is easy to use

• This product was competitively priced when originally purchased. We will need to evaluate whether to replace it when it approaches the end of life or simply upgrade it.
• Users typically only use the phone system because the collaboration tools have been superseded in functionality by other tools.

Incentivized

• Skype for Business has enabled a migration in part away from fixed line telephony and introduced the user to mobile working with a headset which cannot be overstated as being a game changer.
• Being able to schedule Skype for Business meetings through Outlook has meant meetings with colleagues without a meeting room has been a great enabler.

Incentivized