As expected, at Ignite, Microsoft announced their plans around Skype for Business (SfB) and Teams at this session: https://myignite.microsoft.com/sessions/56548.
Here is what you need to know:
- Skype for Business Server will continue and evolve stand-alone product.
- Brand new refresh of main stream support expected in Q4 of 2018
- Will also refresh the SfB client during this time
- Microsoft will continue invest in voice features
- Will include Team integration in hybrid
- Skype for Business Online (SfBO) Features will be available in Teams, and over time the Teams Client will become the client for Users to Consume all Communication and Collaboration Features
- Features include IM, Presence, Calling, Conferencing, Meetings, Contact & Conversation History, VoiceMail …. all Communication Features!
- Net new voice investments (client and cloud) will be in Teams
- Many of the voice and calling features have been built with a new cloud architecture that is expected to provide better quality
- A screen shot of the new client with the communication features is shown below
- Skype for Business Online will still be available as a Separate offering (at least in the short term)
- There will be a transition period with IT and End-User to transition SfBO users to Teams
- These controls govern which client is used to consume voice and calling features
- Existing SfBO Voice Investments and Configuration will not Change
- Current Conferencing Bridge numbers in SfBO will not change
- Current Phone numbers will not change as users transition to teams
- Existing SfB and SfBO Phone Devices will Continue to work in Teams
- Expanding cloud voice and video interop
- Skype for Business Room Systems will be Supported
- The Skype for Business and and Team Clients can run Side-by-Side, and Users can choose where they consume the communication feautres
- For example, Can keep chat and calling in Skype if desired
You can see the official blog post here: https://blogs.office.com/en-us/2017/09/25/a-new-vision-for-intelligent-communications-in-office-365/
Leave a Reply