Skype for Business Online Retiring On, July 31, 2021

In 2017 Microsoft launched a group–chat, Teams as “the hub of teamwork” using Microsoft 365. It was a single app which combined chat, video calling as well as document collaboration. Then after Microsoft had announced that Skype for business online would be replaced by the Microsoft’s Teams group-chat. Users were worried about the tentative date for cut-over since then.

What is the Retirement Plan of Skype For Business?

As per the recent revelation, On July 3, 2021, Skype for Business Online will be officially retired. Till then existing Users are allowed to continue using the Skype service as usual, and in fact, can grow his/her network by adding new users. But for new Office 365 customers, an option of selecting Skype for business online will not be available they will be taken to the MS-Teams group chat directly. As per the sources, in case of customers are not willing to move from Skype for Business Online to Teams by July 2021, there is no provision of customer support agreement even in return of payment.

Microsoft Officials claim that they had reached Feature parity last summer, and they would support Skype for Business existing plan for customers. But customers have not to seem agreed as the Teams Phone support does not reach the level for prime time. Other than these many features are still at their primary stage or non-existing stage.

Lack of an alliance between Skype for Business and Teams is also the reason why users are not comfortable in moving to Teams. But Microsoft has confirmed that it would be resolved at the beginning of the year 2020. By then, the facility to communicate using chat and calling will be added, for Teams and Skype for business consumers.

What are the Measures Taken By Microsoft to Help Skype Users

Microsoft is taking following measures for helping Skype customers migrate to Teams.

1. Addressing feature requested by Skype For business online customers.
2. Dynamic 911:- It routes the users’ call to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) call center, using their current location. Tentatively, in the United States, it will be functional by the end of the year.
3. Retention Period will be reduced that means customer will be able to bound the channel and chat retention period to 1 day, and it guarantees that after deletion data will not remain at any permanent storage location in Team Service. This feature will be deliverable by the end of this calendar year.
4. For Teams, they are working on to take along other contact center and Compliance Recording Solutions, to market. Partnership with Five9, Genesys, and NICE has been already announced, for providing Contact Center solution. Besides this to deliver Compliance Recording, Teams partnership is declared for ASC, NICE and Verint.
5. Microsoft Team is going to provide a set of technical guidance and planning resources with on-board support to help user to move easily from Skype Online to Teams.

Since 2014 Skype For Business has proved its credibility in the market by providing a new vision to business communication. Using this single app user could think of video conferencing, instant messaging, chatting, video call, etc. Now, Microsoft is claiming that Teams will provide more enhanced features which will ensure better user experience.