AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |
Back to Blog
You install the software on your own servers and get Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and gateway interoperability with PBX systems. You work with a Microsoft partner to get the pricing, software, and support.We may earn affiliate commissions from buying links, which help support our testing.
Speaker Or Gallery View On Skype For Business Install The SoftwareThe service makes it effortlessly easy to call other users and video chat. Despite its advantages, however, Skype is very much a consumer video conferencing and Voice-over-IP (VoIP) service, and not a business one. ![]() The company combined Lync (formerly Microsoft Office Communicator), its enterprise communications platform, with Skypes familiar user interface (UI) to create software thats easy to use and has features businesses need. But it falls short of being a full-fledged business VoIP platform. Microsoft Skype for Business also comes with solid video conferencing capabilities. Its worth a second look even if you are happy with your existing service. And associated mobile apps make it easy to use Skype from devices other than your computer. There are also cool features such as Skype Translator and web-based Skype, and these features are present in Microsoft Skype for Business, too (except for Skype Translator; thats a solely consumer Skype feature). Skype does support conference calls and screen sharing, but doesnt provide for the level of operational control required by modern IT. We loaded up Skype credits to get a Skype-assigned phone number so that people could call us and we could make outbound calls to phone numbers. We used Citrix GoToMeeting (12 Per Organizer Per Month at GoToMeeting) for meetings and Jive Chime for group instant messaging (IM). And when all of that got too pesky (as it inevitably did), we fell back to using our personal cell phones. During the course of this review, I kept thinking Microsoft Skype for Business would have been perfect for that scenario. That doesnt mean, however, that it would be perfect for every business (as Ill explain). You have a choice of purchasing a standalone Microsoft Skype for Business plan with an annual fee or signing up with one of the business-grade Microsoft Office 365 (99.99 at Microsoft Store) plans that include Microsoft Office, Microsoft Exchange, and Microsoft SharePoint. The standalone entry-level plan, Microsoft Office Business Essentials plan (5.00 per user per month), offers only group IM, audio, and HD video calling to other users, as well as access to Microsoft Offices online-only products and 1 TB of data. Microsoft Office 365 Business Premium (at 12.50 per user per month) is a little bit more useful, also supporting group HD video calls, desktop and application sharing, and audiovideo recording. This plan also lets you schedule meetings via Microsoft Outlook, join meetings from the web browser, remotely control attendee desktops, and keep attendees in a lobby area prior to starting a meeting. And youll get fully installed versions of all Microsoft Office apps. Compared with other VoIP providers such as RingCentral and Nextiva, Microsoft Skype for Business is dirt cheap. But the low price means that you have to be sure the plan you are signing up for has the features you need. These heavier duty VoIP features are also available in Microsoft Skype for Business Online. You install the software on your own servers and get Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and gateway interoperability with PBX systems. You work with a Microsoft partner to get the pricing, software, and support.
0 Comments
Read More
Leave a Reply. |