Item: Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams
Rating: 10
Author: Verified User

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Skype is used by the whole campus. It's fantastic because it allows easy communication between departments, and, even better, collaboration, between multiple parties. Many people can be added into a call, very easily, so there's no need for fancy speaker equipment to have a conference call. Everyone can just sit at their own desks in their own offices. The status symbols (away, busy, be right back, available), are instrumental in everyday activities. The status symbols and chat-feature are my favorite.

Pros and Cons

Chat
Status symbols (available, away, busy)
Syncs to my Outlook calendar and away messages
Ability to search for people
Profiles/pictures

Dialing out is sometimes amiss, the phone will automatically try an internal extension unless I dial 1.
Not being able to block numbers on my own. I need IT's help.

Return on Investment

Easy communication
Easy access to information

Usability

It's an easy and intuitive program. There isn't anything complicated about it. It's even easy to transfer phone calls.

Support Rating

I have never needed to reach out to support Skype for Business. So I can't rate this question. It's an easy and intuitive program to use. I have never had an issue with Skype, before, and if I did, our internal IT department would be the first line of defense.

Alternatives Considered

N/A

Other Software Used

Adobe Photoshop, MS SharePoint, Adobe InDesign

Likelihood to Recommend

When you're juggling multiple tasks, the chat feature is super convenient. I can have as many windows open and conversations going as needed. It's also very easy to add individuals to chats that have already started.
The status icon is instrumental in locating individuals throughout my building. If your icon is away, I know you are not in your office, so I can save the trip. I have multiple meetings a day, and when my Skype icons sync to them it lets people know to not disturb me. Plus, the "do not disturb" status is fantastic because it sends all calls to voicemail.

Skype for Business

Overall Satisfaction with Skype for Business (formerly Lync)