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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    Skype for Business / Lync (discontinued)

    Score6.4 out of 10
    N/ASkype for Business was an online messaging and conferencing tool, now superseded by Microsoft Teams.N/A

    Whereby

    Score9.9 out of 10
    N/ANorwegian company appear.in offers their flagship video conferencing platform to small teams, both in a free edition hosting up to 4 guests simultaneously in a session or a paid edition that supports up to 12 simultaneous meeting guests, among other features.

    $0

    per user

    Pricing
    Skype for Business / Lync (discontinued)Whereby
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    Free
    $0
    per user
    Pro
    $9.99
    per user
    Business
    $59.99 and up
    per user/room
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    Skype for Business / Lync (discontinued)Whereby
    Free Trial
    NoYes
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoYes
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details——
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    Skype for Business / Lync (discontinued)Whereby
    Considered Both Products
    Discontinued Products
    Chose Skype for Business / Lync (discontinued)
    The three are great tools, but each one have its set of benefits. Lync it's getting out of market, but certainly it still has a great market to those companies that are not worried with external communication, for example. Teams and Slack, have already this approach, but both …
    Incentivized
    Chose Skype for Business / Lync (discontinued)
    Slack and Chatter have great adoption here, for many reasons, including the persistent chat and because it is so easy to deploy.

    BUT, there is no real working Windows clients for those solutions, while Skype for Business is available on almost all platforms. Using a web browser …
    Incentivized
    Whereby
    Chose Whereby
    When compared to the other VC platforms, we found Whereby the easiest to use for users and invitees. The only install from a recipient's point-of-view is a Chrome extension. Zoom requires a download and an account to sign into. Microsoft Teams is only for other members on the …
    Incentivized
    Chose Whereby
    Whereby allows you to see everyone instead of just the last few people to talk. It also has no software to download and install. It works on any device that can access a website.
    Incentivized
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    80%
    Would buy again
    85 Answers
    93%
    Would buy again
    13 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    94%
    Delivers good value for the price
    80 Answers
    100%
    Delivers good value for the price
    14 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    92%
    Happy with the feature set
    98 Answers
    100%
    Happy with the feature set
    14 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    94%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    46 Answers
    92%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    11 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    93%
    Implementation went as expected
    56 Answers
    100%
    Implementation went as expected
    13 Answers
    Features
    Skype for Business / Lync (discontinued)Whereby
    Performance & Compatibility of Online Events Software
    Comparison of Performance & Compatibility of Online Events Software features of Skype for Business / Lync (discontinued) and Whereby
    Feature
    Skype for Business / Lync (discontinued)
    8.0
    195 Ratings
    1% above category average
    Whereby
    7.8
    14 Ratings
    1% below category average
    High quality audio9.1191 Ratings9.014 Ratings
    High quality video9.0185 Ratings9.014 Ratings
    Low bandwidth requirements5.0181 Ratings8.012 Ratings
    Mobile support9.0146 Ratings5.011 Ratings
    Screen Sharing
    Comparison of Screen Sharing features of Skype for Business / Lync (discontinued) and Whereby
    Feature
    Skype for Business / Lync (discontinued)
    7.0
    191 Ratings
    13% below category average
    Whereby
    8.0
    13 Ratings
    1% above category average
    Desktop sharing9.0191 Ratings8.013 Ratings
    Whiteboards5.0120 Ratings8.04 Ratings
    Online Meetings / Events
    Comparison of Online Meetings / Events features of Skype for Business / Lync (discontinued) and Whereby
    Feature
    Skype for Business / Lync (discontinued)
    9.3
    188 Ratings
    13% above category average
    Whereby
    9.4
    13 Ratings
    14% above category average
    Calendar integration10.0174 Ratings9.94 Ratings
    Meeting initiation9.5182 Ratings9.010 Ratings
    Integrates with social media8.182 Ratings9.72 Ratings
    Record meetings / events9.0143 Ratings9.07 Ratings
    Slideshows10.0115 Ratings9.35 Ratings
    Online Events Collaboration
    Comparison of Online Events Collaboration features of Skype for Business / Lync (discontinued) and Whereby
    Feature
    Skype for Business / Lync (discontinued)
    7.5
    173 Ratings
    8% below category average
    Whereby
    8.3
    9 Ratings
    3% above category average
    Live chat8.5171 Ratings9.09 Ratings
    Audience polling7.094 Ratings7.01 Ratings
    Q&A7.094 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Online Events Security
    Comparison of Online Events Security features of Skype for Business / Lync (discontinued) and Whereby
    Feature
    Skype for Business / Lync (discontinued)
    6.8
    156 Ratings
    17% below category average
    Whereby
    6.9
    11 Ratings
    16% below category average
    User authentication9.0142 Ratings8.86 Ratings
    Participant roles & permissions8.5148 Ratings5.09 Ratings
    Confidential attendee list3.0109 Ratings7.04 Ratings
    VoIP system collaboration
    Comparison of VoIP system collaboration features of Skype for Business / Lync (discontinued) and Whereby
    Feature
    Skype for Business / Lync (discontinued)
    7.8
    1 Ratings
    6% above category average
    Whereby
    -
    Ratings
    Video conferencing7.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Audio conferencing8.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Video screen sharing8.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Instant messaging8.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    Skype for Business / Lync (discontinued)Whereby
    Small Businesses
    ClickMeeting
    Score9.5 out of 10
    ClickMeeting
    Score9.5 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    JioMeet
    Score9.9 out of 10
    JioMeet
    Score9.9 out of 10
    Enterprises
    Webex Meetings
    Score8.7 out of 10
    Webex Meetings
    Score8.7 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    Skype for Business / Lync (discontinued)Whereby
    Likelihood to Recommend
    8.4
    (198 ratings)
    9.0
    (15 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    9.0
    (7 ratings)
    10.0
    (2 ratings)
    Usability
    9.0
    (14 ratings)
    10.0
    (2 ratings)
    Support Rating
    8.5
    (40 ratings)
    5.1
    (9 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    7.0
    (2 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    Skype for Business / Lync (discontinued)Whereby
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Discontinued Products
    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
    Read full review
    Whereby
    If you cannot use another more common solution on the market or are looking for an alternative to the known solutions, it is a great alternative. If you have other tools already, and just want to test [them], that's fine, but I think the better-known ones have a better chance of using, knowing, and the learning curve will be shorter.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    Discontinued Products
    • 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.
    Read full review
    Whereby
    • Easy to use: The app is very, very easy to use. Literally just create a chat room (input a name) and access it to chat.
    • Call/video quality: I've experienced better call quality on appear.in than in almost all other chat and video conferencing services out there.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    Discontinued Products
    • 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
    Read full review
    Whereby
    • The paid version may have dial-in. But I have always used the free version. Dial-in is typically required for an "official" multi-purpose teleconference platform.
    • I did have some trouble with larger groups (5+) when it was Appear.in but almost always use it for small 1-on-1 or 3 person meetings.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    Discontinued Products
    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
    Read full review
    Whereby
    We are using a larger tool suite that already includes video conferencing instead of our older approach of using different apps from different vendors. appear.in has a simple but great set of features but its pricing scheme is not as scalable as we really need in a 500+ employee company.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Usability
    Discontinued Products
    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.
    Read full review
    Whereby
    Very easy to use, technical and non-technical colleagues have used it with no instructions needed. That says all about the app and services.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Support Rating
    Discontinued Products
    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
    Read full review
    Whereby
    Never had to contact support, so we cannot give a rating for their overall support. When we noticed the audio was not always great quality, we simply educated our users to mute the mic and use the in-room conference phone which is connected via a dedicated VOIP link and had much better voice quality. The video performance varied by locations network speed and found it got much worse when the room size increased to over 4 connections.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Implementation Rating
    Discontinued Products
    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
    Read full review
    Whereby
    After a recommendation from a partner, as the system is very easy to use, we simply start.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Alternatives Considered
    Discontinued Products
    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
    Read full review
    Whereby
    I find Zoom more complicated to use and harder to use because a lot of people do not like having to download things to their computers or devices and Whereby is so easy to get connected with . I like that Zoom offers larger rooms, but at this point the cost is not worth the extra expense.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Return on Investment
    Discontinued Products
    • 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
    Read full review
    Whereby
    • In general, any sort of online collaborations saves a lot on your budget. The meetings are rather more on time and can be efficient and short.
    • Easy to drop-by and have a small talk with clients/teammates within COVID era.
    • The URL makes you look fancy instead of a random hash.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots

    Whereby Screenshots

    Screenshot of Easy video meetings in your browser. No downloads, no login.Screenshot of Up to 50 participants in Townhall rooms.Screenshot of Record, save, and share meetings.