Microsoft has officially started rolling out its new Skype for Business, replacing the previous Lync and Lync online for enterprise customers.
Both Lync services will shut down in May, and Skype for Business is now rolling out as of Tuesday, April 14. This comes as no great surprise, as Microsoft announced last year that Lync was all set to move to Skype. As a reminder, Lync used to be the chat portal for business, and it will now be swallowed by Skype for Business.
According to the company, the rollout should be complete by the end of May. Skype for Business is now rolling out as part of the monthly update for Office 2013, but it will also reach Office 365 customers worldwide.
"If you currently use Lync Online in Office 365, the new Skype for Business user experience will appear for you in the coming weeks. For customers that need a little more time to prepare for Skype for Business, we have provided the ability for administrators to switch between Skype for Business and the traditional Lync user interface. You can learn more here for Lync Online or here for the client experience with Lync Server," Microsoft explained in a new post on the Office blog.
"Skype for Business is based on the familiar Skype experience that more than 300 million people use every month to connect with friends and family. It is built right into Office, so features like presence, IM, voice and video calls, and online meetings are an integrated part of the Office experience. And with Skype for Business, you can search for and connect with anyone in the Skype network-inside or outside your organization," further adds the company.
In other words, Skype for Business will sport the same consumer interface, but this time with enterprise security level, as well as management features that are not available on the regular, consumer version. At the same time, this means that consumers who use the regular version of Skype at home will not need to make any transition to a new system or service.
Just like Lync online, Skype for Business will also be available online, and will be included into the Office 2013 or 365 packages for business customers. Online customers, meanwhile, will have until May to switch from Lync to Skype's interface.
