From Conveniently Communicating to Full-Scale Collaborating
Along with new technologies there have also developed new and exciting forms of communication. While it used to take weeks to mail letters around the world or track down someone travelling abroad for a phone call, we can now share experiences via Skype instantaneously and seamlessly as if travelling along together.
Skype of Yore
For years Skype has been used to help add a face-to-face dimension to communications, keep in touch with friends and family afar; as well as offering the option of online phone calls when landlines aren’t available.
Adaptation
Often communication tools that were initially created for personal are quickly adapted by savvy businesses to help business function more efficiently. For years businesses have adapted Skype to conduct virtual meetings, chat and make phone calls between locations without expensive calling plans.
Lync
…At the same time, businesses have also spent years making great use of Microsoft’s Lync Online – a cloud-based business communication tool that allows instant messaging, PC-Audio, video, web conferencing and screen sharing.
Unfortunately though Lync Online users were always limited from easy worldwide communication due to the lack of PSTN connectivity and native dial-in audio conferencing.
Microsoft Lync and Skype: The Perfect Marriage
Microsoft has always made it a priority to reinvent productivity and help people communicate in the best and easiest ways possible. Therefore Microsoft is re-branding Lync – and all current users will now begin to use the newly branded: Skype for Business. Skype for Business not only includes new features but also solves old Lync communications dilemmas by combining enterprise voice in Office 365 with public switched telephone network (PSTN) calling and conferencing.
The bottom line: Office 365 users can now use Skype for Business to place calls and start conferences over ‘old school landline’ connections – complete with a good-old-fashioned phone number.
Set-Up
Because many of these wonderful new features are reliant on a landline – Skype for Business will require an additional subscription with a telephone company like AT&T, Verizon or Comcast, but the benefits will be well worth the additional set up.
Office 365 users will be able to use Skype for business for all of their written, audio, and video conversations all based in a secure, high quality, real-time network. Cloud plus on premise hybrid options will allow enterprises to rely on Microsoft’s cloud when they need it but not have to give up what they already manage on-premises.
Even in the short time that it has been available “Skype for Business” is already helping to revolutionize the way businesses interact, communicate and improve productivity.
Skype for Business & Office 365 Features…
Skype for Business merges together the familiar Skype interface with the business coveted Lync business features to combine into a communication and productivity masterpiece.
As Microsoft says, “The Office 365 Skype for Business voice and video services are based on an intelligent real time network, spanning Microsoft’s global data centers, to deliver secure, high quality voice and video traffic at the speed of light across the globe.”
Skype for Business, when used together with Microsoft Office 365 will provide businesses the following seamless features:
- IM
- Voice Calls
- Video Calls
- Online Meetings
- Calendaring
- Document Collaboration
…and more
All of the above features are combined between Microsoft Office 365, Skype for Business, client and cloud which all now help you to work with colleagues as productively from afar as you would side-by-side.
Security
Next of course you can’t forget added security. Business that already use Skype for meetings will now benefit from the added features along with an added level of security when utilizing the link between Skype, Lync and Office 365. Businesses can now share and collaborate on files, schedule events, share emails and IM one another safely and securely from anywhere in the world.
Microsoft is working to combine a one-stop-shop office productivity solution that is as helpful as it is safe.
What’s Next…?
Microsoft is now taking steps to continue to enhance the cloud for real-time communications. Office 365, the world’s cloud for productivity and Microsoft is the only vendor with a cloud specifically designed for modern business. As part of the continued business productivity enhancing efforts Skype for Business will continue to offer global solutions through datacenters across 37 countries.
Skype for Business is also continuing to integrate into the new Office 365 – creating a simple solution for business communication and productivity.
If you already are a Lync Room Systems user – all of these systems will be upgraded to Skype Room Systems which will help more than 50 million meeting spaces of all shapes and sizes move to the Skype for Business platform.
Microsoft also announced in March an expanded relationship with Polycom which will help to deliver a new device: Polycom RoundTable 100. This is a simple yet powerful tool designed to help small-to-midsized businesses (SMB) and teams equip their meeting rooms of all sizes.
Is Skype for Business for You?
If communicating more thoroughly, more easily and more securely would benefit your business then the answer is an unequivocal – yes.
Also, with the addition of the PSTN calls, phone number, file sharing and heightened security – Skype for Business is your one-stop virtual office and business management solution.
- Ready to try Skype for Business?
- Need to figure out the best way to integrate a landline?
- Ready to get started with Microsoft Office 356?
Contact RISE today to discuss how Skype for Business can be integrated into your business in a way that is streamlined, organized and non-disruptive to your current business.
Skype for Business Preview
For those who already Microsoft Office 365 customers you can now sign up to preview Skype Meeting Broadcast, PSTN Conferencing (U.S. Only) and/or Cloud PBX with PSTN Calling (U.S. Only). Click here to learn more: https://www.skypepreview.com/
About RISE:
RISE Solutions Group provides information technology consulting, planning, deployment and staffing services. We are zealous about elevating your business performance through both current and emerging technology and world-class program and project delivery. Our focus is to increase your businesses efficiency while reducing your IT spend. Our portfolio of service offerings is centered on delivering solutions that maximize the value and contribution of IT in your organization. Our services include IT strategy and assessment, IT architecture, and cloud services . This can include leading an entire program or project to staffing organizations with IT professionals. Our consultants have years of hands-on, real-world, practical experience across industries and companies of varying scale and complexity. We want our customers to look good and their end users to be delighted.
We have a particular passion for emerging technologies, helping organizations take new ideas and transform them into revenue-generating products and solutions.
RISE Solutions Group’s Mission Statement
Our mission: to bring calm and wisdom to high-stake technology decisions and deployments – enabling our clients to focus on their core mission and business.
Learn more at: www.risesg.com
