Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams

Overview
Product	Rating	Most Used By	Product Summary	Starting Price
Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams	Score 7.5 out of 10	N/A	Skype for Business was an online messaging and conferencing tool, now superseded by Microsoft Teams.	N/A

Pricing

Editions & Modules

No answers on this topic

Offerings

Pricing Offerings
Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams
Free Trial
No
Free/Freemium Version
No
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
No

Entry-level Setup Fee

No setup fee

Additional Details

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More Pricing Information

Community Pulse
	Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams
Considered Both Products	Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams Verified User Administrator Chose Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams I have not evaluated any other Microsoft Teams products Helpful? Verified User Manager Chose Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams Skype/Teams is simply better. There are many more features, better design, more intuitive experience, more integration with other features/apps, and somehow a superior usage performance. I like the fact that it is connected with all other spaces that the organization uses - … Helpful? Pavel Khan Opu Software Developer Chose Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams Skype for Business makes it easier to group contacts and receive offline/online notifications. It is a great way to make small-group contacts and discuss things over text and phone. It makes business calls more manageable and more interactive to organize. It's helpful if I need … Helpful? Kanchan Chandnani Junior Software Developer Chose Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams It is cheaper, easy to use, and reliable as compared to Zoom and other software. Helpful? Khairul Islam Tonmoy Software Developer Chose Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams Skype for Business's unique features offers many benefits. When I need to communicate with my colleagues, I rely on the chat function. Its interface is intuitive and has top-notch sound. Making groups is easy, and Helpful? Verified User Employee Chose Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams Skype performs better overall and is more reliable in low connectivity areas. Skype also has more options for making changes on the back end(Sound/notifications/invitations, etc) to customize the experience better. An area of improvement for Skype vs Zoom would be their mobile … Incentivized Helpful? KP Kapil Pai PM Chose Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams Teams is a superior product. The companies are now shifting more towards Teams as compared to Skype. Helpful? Verified User Professional Chose Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams We have recently started using the tools which I listed above, these are contemporary with all the additional features required for the world which is looking at the work from home option as the new normal, some functions in our organization are thinking of completely making … Incentivized Helpful? Verified User Analyst Chose Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams Skype is a great tool to increase communication across an organization. I believe Microsoft Teams encourages greater collaboration amongst employees by making conversations and chats easily accessible and also keeping a history of conversations to allow users to pick up where … Helpful? Muhammad Hossain IT Project Manager Chose Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams Skype enables me to have a conversation with people worldwide via calls or messaging, which is extremely convenient. We can share our work or presentation during the call by sending files, images, and even screen sharing. As a result of its superior video and audio quality, … Helpful? Jian Groenewald Provisioning Administrator Chose Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams 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. Helpful? Verified User Team Lead Chose Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams Through instant messaging and phone calls, Skype allows me to connect with people all over the world. Whether it is a company or personal communication, the overall experience is very streamlined and satisfying. During the call, you can send files, images and even screen … Helpful? YA Yvette Ardoin NOC Chose Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams Our school district uses both Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Many of our users prefer Zoom over Teams because they say Zoom is easier. Not considering just the Chat feature, I like the ease of setting up a conference in Teams and sending out the calendar event. The integration of … Incentivized Helpful? Verified User C-Level Executive Chose Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams I think it is inherently easier to use Skype for business; builds on well-established experience base of individual Skype users. Functionality seems to be upgraded reasonably frequently. Integrates well with Microsoft suite of applications Helpful? Aononna Tazin Customer Relationship Management Specialist Chose Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams Hangouts have the worst user interface I've ever seen on a web application. Skype is a separate purchase, while Office 365 includes Skype as part of the subscription. When it comes to competing with Skype, Hangouts needs an overhaul of the UI. We've made the switch to Microsoft … Helpful? Dushyant Pathak (DKP) Technology Analyst Chose Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams Most of the above applications are more suited to the newer age smaller companies that can experiment and switch. Our primary use case for Skype for [Business] was an enterprise software for large-scale communication using Microsoft's suite of products and authentication at a … Helpful? SD Shanaya Desai Process Executive Chose Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams Hangouts has worst UI ever. It requires an additional purchase where skype comes free with office 365. Hangouts doesnt have dedicated PC or Mac app. It works only on browser due to which notifications are hit and miss. Skype has dedicated PC app but no web app. Hangouts needs a … Incentivized Helpful? Firaz Peer Assistant Professor Chose Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams This app integrates the features and functionality of Slack and Zoom into one app. This, when coupled with other MS platforms like Outlook, OneNote, OneDrive, and others makes this app a very compelling option when compared to others. Incentivized Helpful? Verified User Professional Chose Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams Skype for Business comes as part of the entire Microsoft package and thus gives confidence over other products in a way that it is part of entire Eco-system. Other individual tools needs organisation permission because they are not part of eco system and thus can have impact on … Incentivized Helpful? Gavin Scott-Miller Project Manager Chose Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams Skype for Business (formerly Lync) at one time was the industry standard for communication and video calls. But times change, features adapt, and companies move on to new software focuses. That is what happened with Skype. If you use Skype for Business (formerly Lync), it … Incentivized Helpful? ME Md Equbal Technical Associate Chose Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams I had used "IBM Sametime" [at] my last company. It was also a good tool but as good as Skype for Business is. Skype for Business has many features and very user-friendly but IBM Sametime [did] not [have as] many features. Sharing screen and taking command is one of the best … Incentivized Helpful? Sushant goyal Analyst Chose Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams Skype for Business existing before all these other softwares were present. So legacy is maintained by Skype. Main feature that stacks up Skype against all of the mentioned apps is security provided by Skype for Business apps. As we all know Zoom was not at all safe to use as lots … Incentivized Helpful? Akhilesh Arya Assistant Professor Chose Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams Better audio video quality then webex when it comes to one on one calling. Incentivized Helpful? Heather Hicks Instructional Designer & LMS Administrator Chose Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams We have switched to Teams, and it does offer a lot more so I think that it was the right choice, but Skype [for Business (formerly Lync)] was a very functional tool. The main issues were the bandwidth issues. The work computers aren't particularly high in RAM or processing … Incentivized Helpful?
Top Pros	Pro Easy to use Pro Video calls Pro Instant messaging
Top Cons	Minus Internet connection Minus Audio quality Minus Mobile app

Features

Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams

Performance & Compatibility of Online Events Software

Comparison of Performance & Compatibility of Online Events Software features of Product A and Product B
	Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams 7.6 192 Ratings 5% below category average
High quality audio	8.0188 Ratings
High quality video	7.7183 Ratings
Low bandwidth requirements	6.6180 Ratings
Mobile support	7.9144 Ratings

Screen Sharing

Comparison of Screen Sharing features of Product A and Product B
	Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams 8.5 189 Ratings 7% above category average
Desktop sharing	8.8189 Ratings
Whiteboards	8.3119 Ratings

Online Meetings / Events

Comparison of Online Meetings / Events features of Product A and Product B
	Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams 7.8 186 Ratings 5% below category average
Calendar integration	8.0172 Ratings
Meeting initiation	8.1180 Ratings
Integrates with social media	7.882 Ratings
Record meetings / events	7.6141 Ratings
Slideshows	7.7113 Ratings

Online Events Collaboration

Comparison of Online Events Collaboration features of Product A and Product B
	Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams 8.6 171 Ratings 3% above category average
Live chat	9.2169 Ratings
Audience polling	8.592 Ratings
Q&A	8.192 Ratings

Online Events Security

Comparison of Online Events Security features of Product A and Product B
	Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams 8.1 154 Ratings 3% below category average
User authentication	8.2140 Ratings
Participant roles & permissions	7.9146 Ratings
Confidential attendee list	8.1108 Ratings

Best Alternatives
	Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams
Small Businesses	ClickMeeting Score 9.5 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies	ClickMeeting Score 9.5 out of 10
Enterprises	Google Meet Score 8.3 out of 10
All Alternatives	View all alternatives

User Ratings
	Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams
Likelihood to Recommend	8.6 (195 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew	9.0 (7 ratings)
Usability	9.0 (14 ratings)
Support Rating	8.5 (40 ratings)
Implementation Rating	7.0 (2 ratings)

User Testimonials
	Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams
Likelihood to Recommend	Microsoft Skype is useful for collaborations across distances, including work from home, as well as a more convenient way to communicate with a large group of people. Skype is also useful to communicate with specific parties quickly, rather than relying on cellular service in areas where not as available. Skype is less useful if the team does not use computers , tablets, smartphones, etc in daily workflow as it would rarely be used. Incentivized Verified User Anonymous Read full review
Pros	Microsoft 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. Dushyant Pathak (DKP) Technology Analyst Read full review
Cons	Microsoft Probably the biggest area is the video element as it has historically struggled in this area. The need to be forced to federate with another organisation by providing yours and enabling the other organisation settings is a bit tedious but once done, allows for simple collaboration between third-parties. Functionality wise, as it's an older product and being superseded by MS Teams, it feels as if it's run its course but was very good for what it does/did at the time. Incentivized Verified User Anonymous Read full review
Likelihood to Renew	Microsoft 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 EM Emiliano Monterubbianesi Senior Programmer Analyst Read full review
Usability	Microsoft 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. Verified User Anonymous Read full review
Support Rating	Microsoft 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 Sarah Bandy Executive Director Read full review
Implementation Rating	Microsoft 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 Greg Golding Account Executive Read full review
Alternatives Considered	Microsoft 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 Jian Groenewald Provisioning Administrator Read full review
Return on Investment	Microsoft We almost lost our biggest client because of the poor performance early on in our implementation...the online meetings were poor quality for audio and bandwidth refreshing Many of the employees in our company disliked the quality so much, they started to sign up for free Cisco WebEx accounts to use instead The majority of employees in our company lost trust in our CTO because of his decision to switch from Cisco WebEx to Skype for Business Incentivized Randy Palmer Manager, Training & Learning Development Read full review
ScreenShots