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Skype for Business connects you to your team!
January 18, 2018

Skype for Business connects you to your team!

Mandy Cramer | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 5 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with Skype for Business

I use Skype for Business at the request of a publication client who uses it to communicate with his team which includes me, the designer, editors, authors, marketers, etc. Skype has been essential for our meetings since we are all located all over the United States. People can enter the calls via voice or video and it can recognize who is talking based on the microphone in order to let you know who is speaking in case they are not visible on video.

Another nice thing is it's compatible on Windows and Mac devices, whether it's a computer or PC, tablet or smartphone.
  • Device compatibility is excellent between all the different types of technology we have nowadays. You can patch in via smartphone, PC, Mac, or tablet.
  • Skype is a familiar brand so most people can easily navigate the app whether they've used Skype for personal or business.
  • It's great for people in different time zones so they can all connect at the same time to make plans and follow through.
  • If two people are competing to speak, there can be issues with distinguishing who is talking as it will lower the sound of the quieter voice.
  • If you're using the app on mobile and there are connectivity issues, it sometimes boots you out completely which can be frustrating and difficult to jump back into the call.
  • Because Skype for Business is separate from regular Skype it is a little annoying to have to maintain two accounts. Especially if some of your clients are also personal contacts.
  • Being able to save on gas for all team members is definitely saving my client money.
  • Team members are able to enter the call via whatever device they prefer. I've entered calls mobile while driving, or while in my office at home or elsewhere. It's perfect for a freelancer to jump in on calls.
Skype for Business works, but it's not as user-friendly or stable as normal Skype. One difficulty with Skype for Business is that the features aren't always implementable. Skype for Business is more stable than Google Hangouts. It doesn't have as many features as WebEx, but it is easier to gain access to.
Skype for Business is great for solving the quick issue of communicating with a team, especially if the team can't meet in person. Since the teams I work with are located all over the US, sometimes overseas, it is essential that we are able to get on the same page when planning for our current and future projects. We don't use all the capabilities of Skype for Business to be honest, but that's probably partially because it's not the best program for supporting multiple key features that other apps do better.

Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams Feature Ratings

6.0
High quality audio
5
High quality video
8
Low bandwidth requirements
5
Mobile support
6
5.0
Desktop sharing
5
Whiteboards
Not Rated
5.3
Calendar integration
5
Meeting initiation
6
Integrates with social media
Not Rated
Record meetings / events
5
Slideshows
5
6.0
Live chat
6
Audience polling
Not Rated
Q&A
Not Rated
6.0
User authentication
Not Rated
Participant roles & permissions
6
Confidential attendee list
6
VoIP system collaboration ()
Not Rated
Web and Video Conferencing ()
Not Rated

Using Skype for Business

1 - I am a graphic designer who works with clients all over the nation and world. This means I work with clients in different time zones, so it's essential that I can communicate with them no matter where they are. Also, because calls aren't free outside of my country, Skype for Business helps save on phone calls overseas or across borders.
1 - I don't personally pay for Skype for Business, but my client does in order to communicate with me. If there are issues, I can contact my client who knows the ins and outs of using the program. Overall, I haven't needed to get support however as I am a seasoned technology user and can generally figure things out on my own.
  • Communication
  • Team Planning
  • ability to IM, phone or video calls
  • It's pretty standard an not very innovative to be honest.
  • While I haven't used it, you can technically do Skype for Business for a large audience.
  • Broadcasting a seminar or calls to a large audience.
  • Checking when other team members are online which will help know when you're able to contact them best.
  • Use strong security standards to protect the content of your messages or calls.
I honestly feel that with most people using iPhone nowadays, it's easy to just call or use FaceTime if you need to be in touch with a client. Unless you need to have a conference call, there are plenty of ways to get in touch with a client otherwise besides using a somewhat inefficient program.