A Glimpse Into 2018: Bringing Skype for Business and Teams Together

Did you know that Microsoft is bringing Skype for Business capabilities into Microsoft Teams in 2018? Let’s peek at how this will alter and improve our working environment, and get some basic questions answered.

Microsoft’s new vision for Intelligent Communications
Microsoft is aiming to bring the capabilities of Skype for Business in the cloud into Microsoft Teams to deliver a single hub for teamwork, with built-in, fully integrated voice and video.
By tightly weaving communications into the apps people use to collaborate every day, Intelligent Communications will be enabled, revolutionizing calling and meeting experiences.
Why?

• As users are working on more teams, there is opportunity to more seamlessly integrate communication capabilities into Microsoft Teams so users can have a single place for their conversations, contacts and content.
• Microsoft Teams also provides a modern cloud infrastructure that enables Microsoft to take advantage of their assets for artificial intelligence such as AI, Microsoft Graph and LinkedIn to deliver intelligent communications.
• With Microsoft Teams, new experiences for meetings and calling including the prep, delivery and post follow-ups will be created.
  

What will happen to the Skype brand?
Skype will remain the product name and Skype for Business remains as the product name for the on-premises server. The Skype for Business brand will also surface in voice and video experiences within Microsoft Teams.
What does this mean for existing Office 365 customers?

• The key set of Skype for Business capabilities in Office 365 will be brought into Teams over time along with new voice, video and meetings innovation. Customers may choose to migrate Skype for Business users when the capabilities meet their requirements.
• Microsoft is encouraging all Office 365 customers to start using Teams independently or side-by-side with Skype for Business.

What support is being offered?

• Customers can continue to use Skype for Business in Office 365 until Microsoft Teams meets their business needs.
• Microsoft will assist customers who wish to move users to Teams with tools and guidance to control and manage the process. Prescriptive guidance and best practices will be available at https://aka.ms/skypeandteams.
• FastTrack, customer support and partners will be available to help guide customers through the transition.
  

Intrigued? So are we.
Learn more about this journey at http://skypeandteams.fasttrack.microsoft.com/.
 
Note: 2018 is the proposed timeframe for Microsoft, but dates and individual features may change.