Full-featured business communication platform with secure messaging, calls, Outlook integration, and robust collaboration tools
Full-featured business communication platform with secure messaging, calls, Outlook integration, and robust collaboration tools
Pros
- Easy integration with other Microsoft products
- Strong security features
- Built-in dictionary and auto-correct feature to catch typos
Cons
- Long load time
- Limited emoji selections
- Small file size transfer limits
- May be too expensive for smaller businesses
With Microsoft’s Skype for Business, you can instant message, call and share information across your organization. Whether you want to host meetings, communicate with other organizations or just stay in touch across multiple locations, Skype can help.
You’ll find all the instant messaging features you’d expect, like emojis, contact lists and GIFs. You can easily import data straight from Microsoft Outlook, making it easy to synchronize contacts without tedious data entry. You can choose to store all chats on local servers, but this feature requires a large amount of storage space.
Skype’s screenshare features makes collaboration easy. With the click of a button, you can show your desktop to any of your Skype contacts. Use this feature to ask for help or walk a new employee through a complex task. You can even use it to share personal photos without having to email them around.
You aren’t limited to desktops. Skype for Business can be installed on mobile phones and tablets, making it easy to bring your office staff and sales forces together. Host a meeting at the head office and invite salespeople from across the country or connect your teleworking employees with each other.
How should employees react to instant messages from unknown coworkers? Built-in contact cards make it easy to quickly see the location, job title and email address of anyone who sends an IM. Each card is customizable, so employees can add their own messages or simply stick with the default settings.
Of course, Skype for Business offers plenty of phone features. You can host conference calls, call employees directly or even meet virtually with clients. Choose between audio-only calls, screenshare options or webcam integration. Up to 10,000 people can attend your meetings, so thankfully Skype also offers muting and blocking features. You can even record your meetings and post them on YouTube or other sites.
Group chat lets managers and team leaders deliver information to multiple employees at once. Keep up a group chat throughout the day to let your team bond, or use a group chat to hold virtual meetings. You can also use screenshare during group chat, making Skype for Business a great tool for long-distance trainings or team-boosting chats.
Your employees can use the real-time status updates to mark themselves as available, busy or offline. They can even add a custom status, which is perfect for offices that use hotdesking and need updated information on where employees are sitting each day.
You probably won’t use Skype to transfer files between users. You can’t send documents or photos larger than 300 MB, which is very small. However, you can always open up a contact card, click on the user’s email address and send your files via Outlook.
With Skype, you don’t have to worry about security. Phone calls and instant messages are encrypted, meaning your communications will stay private, and your staff meetings won’t be invaded by outside visitors. Microsoft uses powerful Transport Layer Security (TSL) protections that encrypt all incoming and outgoing messages. Even if a hacker got into your network, your data would still be safe.
Secured, external communications are also possible. You can send instant message or host phone calls with other business that use Skype for Business and know that your communications are protected by TSL.
Overall, Microsoft Skype for Business offers plenty of features, especially if you’re already using Microsoft Outlook. While it’s not the cheapest product on the market, Skype comes with dozens of helpful features, secure communications and Microsoft’s well-known levels of quality.
Pros
- Easy integration with other Microsoft products
- Strong security features
- Built-in dictionary and auto-correct feature to catch typos
Cons
- Long load time
- Limited emoji selections
- Small file size transfer limits
- May be too expensive for smaller businesses
Pros
- Easy to use
- Completely free
- It was created with safety in mind
- Integration with other Windows tools
- Offered in different languages
Cons
- There have been complaints concerning the video quality
- Only available in Windows 7, Windows 8 and 8.1, and Windows 10
Skype for Business is a free video conferencing tool that really goes above and beyond the average video conferencing system. Skype for Business integrates the quality and ease of Skype with the professional security of Lync. It allows for video calls with individuals and groups, instant messaging, and the sharing of files securely. It truly is a must-have for any business.
Skype for Business runs on a Windows operating system. The security system that many came to love about Lync is fully integrated into this new program. Skype for Business is integrated with Outlook as well so users can keep up to date with their calendar and also take notes in OneNote. Users can even share screens with those they are contacting. The possibilities are really limitless with what you can get done in this new kind of office.
Skype for Business is now offered in nineteen different languages allowing for any user to comfortably use this software. It is very easy to use. Users simply sign in, choose their availability status, and then they are presented with an interface that is not too different from their own phone. Skype for Business allows for users to set statuses, save favorite contacts, see their recent conversions and calls, as well as their entire contact list. Even users who have zero background in video chatting will feel comfortable with the icons since they are modeled after a traditional phone.
Skype for Business is a setting the precedent for the future of meetings. It is a great tool for anyone looking to use video conferencing securely and professionally, whether or not they are a company.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Completely free
- It was created with safety in mind
- Integration with other Windows tools
- Offered in different languages
Cons
- There have been complaints concerning the video quality
- Only available in Windows 7, Windows 8 and 8.1, and Windows 10
Pros
- Comes with an instant messaging system for sending short messages
- Lets you do voice and video chats online
- Perfect for use with individuals and groups
- Offers screen sharing and other features for Outlook users
Cons
- Some users report connection problems while online
- You may have a hard time locating users not on your contact list
- Requires additional payments for many business features
- May not replace the version of Skype you currently use
Skype for Business comes loaded with all the features you love about the software you use for chatting with family and friends and new features that are perfect for commercial users.
Chatting online existed for years, but most of the video chats that you had in the past relied on older web cams. Those cameras often made the images you saw look grainy, and you probably had slower internet connections that caused buffering too. Skype completely changed the way that people chatted online with software that makes you feel like the other person is sitting right there in the room with you. With Skype for Business, you can now enjoy the same features when chatting with coworkers and clients.
Skype for Business comes with voice chat, which lets you use the internet to make basic phone calls, and a video chat feature that lets you chat with cameras. You can use those features when talking with just a single person or with an entire group. Using the video chat feature is a great way to talk with clients living on the opposite side of the country or with prospective clients who want to know more about your work. You'll also appreciate the instant messaging feature, which lets you send quick messages back and forth with others.
This new program combines everything you like about Lync with everything you love about Skype. New privacy features keep your work secure and ensure that no one gains access to confidential information you share online. You can also view information about other users, including when they are offline or away from their desks.
Another great feature is that Skype for Business integrates with Outlook. This lets you access your calendar while using the program to view upcoming meetings and appointments. If other users also have Outlook, you can even share screens to easily view content across two different computers.
Though some features on Skype for Business are free to use, many of the features require that you pay to use them. As it comes loaded on Office 365, you might expect to have full access to all features, but that isn't true in most cases. Some users also have a hard time finding other users, and some also experience connection problems. Depending on how and why you use the web and chat with others, you may find that you can use Skype as easily as you can use Skype for Business.
Pros
- Comes with an instant messaging system for sending short messages
- Lets you do voice and video chats online
- Perfect for use with individuals and groups
- Offers screen sharing and other features for Outlook users
Cons
- Some users report connection problems while online
- You may have a hard time locating users not on your contact list
- Requires additional payments for many business features
- May not replace the version of Skype you currently use
