Skype for Business launches in technical preview, will replace Microsoft Lync

Microsoft has announced the launch of the technical preview of Skype for Business. Originally announced in November 2014, Skype for Business replaces the Microsoft Lync communications tool. Naturally, the new experience looks a lot like Skype.

From Microsoft:

Based on the familiar Skype experience that more than 300 million people use every month to connect with friends and family, Skype for Business delivers an expanded Lync feature set and enterprise-grade security, compliance and control to IT. It also enables people to search for and connect with anyone in the Skype network—inside or outside their organization. And Skype for Business 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.

Microsoft says that most existing hardware and software that supports Lync will also support Skype for Business. The Technical Preview is being released today and will run until April 30, giving current Lync customers the time to check out the upcoming changes. The full launch of Skype for Business is expected at some point in April.

Source: Microsoft

Joseph Keller