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Skype for Business facilitates seamless communication with video calls, messaging, and file sharing. While the software’s screen sharing can be grainy and lag at times, its integration with Microsoft Office and secure connections make it a reliable choice for organizations needing comprehensive, collaborative tools.

Skype for Business Specifications

Appointment Management/Scheduling

e-Prescriptions

Lab Integrations

Patient Portal

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What is Skype for Business?

Overview

Skype for Business is a hybrid voice messaging solution that goes beyond Skype’s standard capabilities to cater to larger business deployment. The application allows users to collaborate with their coworkers through messaging, group video calls, and screen sharing. Their system can be hosted in the cloud or deployed on-premises. Skype for Business allows users to interact with the participants via text messaging, high-definition (HD) video, and audio communication. It is available both as a standalone solution or integrated tightly with the 365 corporate packages from Microsoft Office. With this online meeting solution, users can make VoIP calls, video and audio chats with members across every device before initiating meetings with up to 250 people.

The platform supports collaboration via video conferencing to help people using the internet or phone. Users can record online meetings for future use. Since the application supports tight integration with Microsoft Office platforms, it facilitates users to make presentations and share files on the call. Through a centralized platform, Skype for Business offers multi-party 1080p HD video conferencing, advanced scheduling, desktop sharing, support for PowerPoint presentations, and real-time application.

Their online meeting solution offers calling and texting to landlines and mobile phones. Users can easily schedule meetings with their contacts and even view their online status through Microsoft Outlook. Microsoft applications such as PowerPoint or Word can also help users to start conversations. With just a single click, participants can easily join sessions from meeting notifications or calendars. Not only this, Microsoft's PSTN conferencing ensures meeting attendance from a telephone, allowing users to dial in numbers when the internet is slow or unavailable. Other key features of the platform include the ability to control other members' desktops and support for third-party dial-in.

Price: Skype for business offers three pricing plans. Their first pricing tier, standalone pricing plan starts at $2.00 per user per month. The following pricing tier, Standalone Online Plan 2 comes at $5.50 per user per month. Their Office 365 Business Essentials is accessible at $5.00 per user/per month for at least a year, while their Office 365 Business Premium is offered at $12.50 per user/per month for at least a year.

Free Trial: Skype for Business offers a free version of their service, but there is no free trial for users.

Support: The application provides support through email and an online knowledge base.

USP: The software allows users to organize the contact information of workers within the organization, making it accessible for the people who want to join the company.

Product Advantages: Their user-friendly layout allows users to build favorite sections and groups, while the quick search option and integration with Outlook is also very useful. Users can also check if someone is available or not.

Product Limitations: Skype for Business offers limited functions with the calendar application.

Pros and Cons of Skype for Business

Pros

  • Availability on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux, make it accessible across devices
  • The screen sharing feature facilitates collaboration during calls
  • Moderated group chats help manage large groups effectively
  • Live translation during calls supports communication in different languages
  • Strong encryption ensures safe communication

Cons

  • The platform is internet-dependent and relies on a stable internet connection
  • Video quality drops occasionally

Skype for Business Reviews

Overall Rating

5

1 Review(s)

Rating Distribution

5

star

(1)

4

star

3

star

2

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1

star

June 2022

Skype has always been the best traditional voice calling app until Microsoft acquired it

Ali L.

Information Technology and Services

Ease of use

10

Value for money

10

Customer Support

10

Functionality

10

Pros

Skype for Business remains the ultimate voice and video calling app. Without a doubt it is a stable and reliable communication tool. It contains key features that many other calling and chat apps lack, such as message editing and indefinite chat and media history storage. However, since Microsoft's acquisition in 2011, it seems they have made some questionable changes. For example they decreases the chat history retention period to just three years, and it feels like they are phasing out Skype to promote Microsoft Teams as an alternative solution. It is worth noting that Microsoft Teams is now the default communication app included in Windows 11.

Cons

The chat history is limited to the last three years, which may be a drawback for some users. It is worth noting that the software is owned by Microsoft, which seems to prioritize other communication apps like Microsoft Teams.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Skype for Business offers an API.