Skype for Business: for important matters. Installing Skype for Business

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Skype provides the opportunity to communicate and exchange information within enterprises and in the external environment.

Almost all Skype features are completely free, but some commercial features require payment. A company that implements Skype into its processes has the opportunity to optimize its business processes. Using the application, you can speed up your work processes.

Skype subscribers have access to:

• Voice and video calls;
• Secure online correspondence and file exchange;
• Calls to landlines and mobile phones and many other functions.

Skype business - VoIP telephony for the office

What else can business version of Skype?

Skype subscribers can benefit from business functions such as conferencing, call forwarding, caller identification, caller status tracking (free, busy), Skype To Go™ number, remote access and SMS sending.

Advantages of the business version of Skype:

• Simplifying the exchange of information with remote clients and counterparties
• Significantly simplifying the business life of a modern person
• Centralized installation on all corporate computers
• Easy integration into office VoIP telephony

Skype is fully integrated into the Asterisk IP PBX and allows you to make and receive calls from Skype directly to work phones. Our company offers services for integrating Skype into a corporate telephone system.

Would you like to purchase and set up Skype for your business? Contact our specialists for advice! We will help you set up your company's telecommunications infrastructure and provide all the capabilities of IP telephony.

SKYPE features

Use the program to its full potential

Free calls between users

Calls between Skype subscribers are always free, regardless of whether they are made within a country or between countries.

Call your best friend to discuss your weekend plans, or connect with a client on the other side of the world and talk to your heart's content.

Group calls

Video calls between subscribers

Face to face communication is priceless. That's why we offer free video calling.

Chat via free video with people who have Skype, a webcam, or a compatible smartphone.

High-quality Skype video calls will allow you to be closer to your friends and family.

Convenient and fast chat

No matter where you are, your friends are always nearby with Skype instant messaging.

Discuss your weekend plans with your friends, chat with loved ones or send messages to colleagues - all in a free chat.

Calls to mobile and landline phones

You can say hi to your friends and family, even if they're not on Skype. Make international calls to mobile and landline phones at any time of the day at an affordable price. It's amazing that you can call people - even on the other side of the planet, even in the next house - and spend so little money.

Getting started with Skype for Business

Since Office 365 offers a free 30-day trial, I signed up for Office 365 Business Premium to test out Microsoft Skype for Business.

Once my subscription was ready, I saw Microsoft Skype for Business in the list of available applications and could install the client program.

Once installed, Skype opens a product overview with tips for using Skype for Business.

Or you can immediately log into the service using your organization’s address.

In my case, my Office 365 password was implied because I was using the service as part of the Office 365 suite.

If you have a separate plan, you will use the account associated with Microsoft Skype for Business.

And if you have Microsoft Skype for Business Server, you use your company's default credentials after configuring the software to work with your organization's domain.

Video conferencing capabilities

Microsoft is offering high-definition (1920x1080) video for peer-to-peer calls among Microsoft Skype for Business users.

There doesn't seem to be a limit to how many people can have video turned on - which is a bit surprising since most conferencing tools have certain limits.

I was able to test the feature with six users; my local network struggled to cope, but the application itself was not overloaded.

Video screens are displayed in gallery view, allowing you to see all participants at a glance.

During video calls with more than five people, the app displays icons of the five most active speakers at the top.

Below is a row of smaller icons - those participants who speak less.

You can always see who is performing at the moment.

Microsoft Skype for Business pricing plans

Microsoft Skype for Business is easy to use, once you navigate the labyrinth of pricing and plan features.

You can choose a standalone Microsoft Skype for Business plan that costs annually, or you can sign up for one of the Microsoft Office 365 Business plans, which include Microsoft Office, Microsoft Exchange, and Microsoft SharePoint.

The standalone entry-level Microsoft Office Business Basic plan ($5.00 per user per month) only offers group instant messaging, HD audio and video calls to other users, as well as access to online versions of Microsoft Office products and 1 TB of data.

Microsoft Office 365 Business Premium ($12.50 per user per month) is a little more functional and also supports group video calls in HD, screen and application sharing, and audio/video recording.

This package also allows you to schedule meetings using Microsoft Outlook, join meetings via a web browser, remotely control participants' desktops, and place participants in a "lobby" before the meeting begins.

In addition, the user will receive fully installed versions of all Microsoft Office applications.

Microsoft Skype for Business can also be purchased as a standalone product for $2 or $5 per month per user - depending on whether you need additional features such as scheduling meetings through Microsoft Outlook, joining a meeting through a browser, remotely monitoring participants' screens, and " waiting room" before the start of the meeting.

Step-by-step installation instructions

There are 3 steps left before using the program

1. Download the latest version of the program	2. Install the program	3. Launch the program and go online
Skype installation requires approximately 1.6 MB of free disk space. After running the installation file, the installer will download the Skype application (approximately 20 MB) in the background.	After running the installation file, the installer will download the Skype application (approximately 20 MB) in the background.	Create an account and log in to the network.

How to install an application on a smart watch

How to remove Skype for Business

If you were careless to click once to launch the Skype for Business application, now this utility will launch every time you start the OS. If you do not use this program and want to know how to uninstall Skype for Business, you will find instructions below.

Uninstall Skype for Business

Let's start with the bad news - you can only uninstall Skype for Business together with Microsoft Office 365, since the program was originally built into this office suite. If you do not have this package, then you will not have problems with the utility, but if you want to use all the functions of Office 365, but you do not need Skype, then there is a way out.

Remove from autorun

It's not for nothing that people compare Skype for Business to a virus. This utility does not allow you to remove yourself from the registry so easily. Even if you run a special optimizer, for example, Advanced SystemCare Free, you will not find any mention of Skype in the startup area cleaning section. It seems that the developers have done everything to prevent you from uninstalling the utility. But everything is much simpler.
You can remove Skype from autorun directly from the program itself. You don't have to log in to do this, but you do need to restart your device. After the OS has fully loaded, this program will also load and prompt you to log into your account. Next, you need to find the settings icon on the right side of the screen, and in the drop-down menu, select the “Service” section, in which click on the “Options” item. In the window that opens, go to the “Personal” section and uncheck the corresponding items, as a result you will receive the following settings:
Apply the changes by clicking on the “OK” button and then the program will not bother you anymore. If you reinstall the office suite, then simply do not start Skype, since before the first launch the program is always in a dormant state and does not cause problems. And if you have already launched it, either on purpose or by accident, now you know how to uninstall Skype for Business from Windows 10. If you still need a communication tool, then you can try the regular home version of Skype, which does not differ in such tricks with autoloading .

Main features:

• Create a group conversation or video chat and add participants to them.
• Join, leave, rejoin, or host Skype for Business meetings. Easily discuss all important issues and work together with colleagues.
• Video calling allows you to see the speaker and others to see you during the conference.
• Manage a meeting (mute participants or remove users from the meeting) and get information about participant capabilities.
• View upcoming meetings and join them with one click.
• Find recent conversations and pick up where you left off.
• Find contacts by username, phone number or email address
• Increased security with the Active Directory Authentication Library (ADAL).

Note!

• Anyone can use the Skype for Business Mobile app if they are invited to a Skype for Business or Lync 2013 meeting. However, to take full advantage of the Skype for Business Mobile app, you must have a Skype for Business or Lync account. Additionally, some features require an application upgrade to Skype for Business Server or Lync Server. Otherwise the functions will not be available. If you are unsure of your account information, please contact your IT department.

• This program requires connection to a properly licensed copy of Microsoft Skype for Business Server or Lync Server or Office 365. Skype for Business Online / Lync Online will only work under this condition. You may need to upgrade to Microsoft Skype for Business Server or Lync Server to function properly. Some features may not be available in all countries. If you are unsure of your company's licensing and/or deployment of Skype for Business or Lync, contact your organization's IT department. Skype for Business is only supported by Android OS 4.0 or later.

To compile the article, materials from the sites were used:

• programmok.net
• skype-asterisk.ru
• www.pcmag.com
• trashbox.ru

Let's sum it up

This article introduced you to the capabilities of Skype for Business. You learned about possible tariffs and benefits of this program. Now you can easily start using Skype with your business partners, hold conferences and take advantage of all the features of Skype.

Skype for Business is a new service from Microsoft for communicating with hundreds of people simultaneously in video mode; MSI - client. But don't be confused: Skype is a completely different program; the predecessor of Skype Business Edition is Microsoft Lync.

What it is

"Skype for Business" is an excellent solution for those who want to make an online conference with the participation of hundreds of people simultaneously. In addition, the distinctive features of this software product are:

• Maintaining corporate security.
• The interface known to everyone from the Skype program.
• Clear qualitative differences from Skype in the functions performed.
• Conducting conferences for 250 people.
• Ability to link to other programs from Office 365, for example, Outlook.
• When working with other applications, such as Excel or Power Point, you don't need to stop running either of them to chat on Skype. The same applies to sharing your screen and the operation of these programs during a video call.

Read more about the benefits

Safety

Skype for Business has a number of significant advantages, one of the most important is security. What is Microsoft doing to ensure the security of its users, namely those who purchased Microsoft Skype for Business? Judging by the descriptions of this software product, everything is possible.

During communication between any allowed number of participants, all information coming from each party is encrypted. For this, so-called AES encryption is used. In addition, strong user authentication methods make it possible to further secure all participants.

Conference

The capabilities of the Skype for Business program have been expanded in the area of ​​mass production of simultaneous multilateral online broadcasts. In this version (unlike classic Skype, which is radically different and distributed free of charge), you can invite up to two hundred and fifty people to a video conference. This is very convenient both for individual organizations conducting online negotiations over the Internet, and for large corporations that hold intra-organizational meetings with a large number of participants.

This software contains new functions. For example, “Skype Room Systems” is needed to use a variety of equipment that helps achieve certain goals of such communication, that is, it helps to combine many devices (including equipment from Polycom) into one special messenger.

If you need an online digital whiteboard, you can use the Microsoft Surface Hub for this purpose - another example of a useful new feature available in this software product. Skype for Business is also used where it is necessary to use PBX systems for corporations and other VOIP phone users.

Cost of a special program

The cost fluctuates depending on the exchange rate of the dollar versus the ruble. It turns out on average about one hundred Russian rubles per month for each user (this is an approximate price, in dollar equivalent it is two units). For example, the first plan, called “Online 1,” has this price. The second proposed tariff plan contains more services, the difference in price is significant - 2.7 times more expensive. But clarity and high quality of communication are guaranteed!

Convenient distance

If your employees are located outside the centralized office, you will not need to pay rent, because communication and negotiations will be carried out online, much like in Skype, only with a larger number of participants. In addition, you will not need to pay for the labor of technical personnel maintaining equipment and software, and you can also search for your remote workers for negotiations through Outlook mail.

How to download and install?

To use the Microsoft Skype for Business program, you need to download the file from the official Microsoft website in your portal (this is possible if your company uses the Office 365 package and the programs included in it; in particular, you must first check the licensing, that is, the availability of the purchased license for this software product). An alternative download option, like Torrent, can only be used when downloading a file from an unofficial source.

Installation and configuration is carried out as follows:

1.Go to the website https://portal.office.com/ in your browser.

2.Go to the “Office 365” section.

3.At the top of the page, find the image of a small gear. These are the settings. Enter them.

4.You will see the settings page. In the Software section, select Install and manage software.

5.If there is a “Skype for Business” link on the next page, click on it and, having selected Russian, click the “Install” button; if you see a page that lists the products included in the “office” package, and if the one you are looking for is among them, then you need to click the “Install” button, and all programs from this package will be installed on your computer, including “Skype for Business” "

If this program is not included in your package, you need to open access to it (purchase it). To do this, you need to contact Office product support at this address: https://support.office.com/home/contact.

7.After the process of saving the file is completed, find it (it is called “setupskypeforbusinessentryretail.exe”), double-click it and click “Run”.

If the installation is accidentally interrupted, use the downloaded file again to resume it.

8.When the program is installed, you will see a message on the monitor screen stating that the Office installer has completed its work. Launch the application by double clicking.

9.When a window with the text of the license agreement appears on the screen, read it and click “Accept.” This way you can install the program on four more computers.

If necessary, you should use the program without installation, which can be accessed through the Web App browser.

A large number of enterprises and corporations have already tried out Skype for Business, which is so easy to download and configure and, if necessary, delete. For communication in conference mode, it is also convenient to use the Android version.

Some time ago, Microsoft launched the Skype for Business service, which replaced Microsoft Lync. Skype for Business combines the familiar interface and way of working of Skype with the signature enterprise security, interoperability, and control of Microsoft Lync.

However, despite the similarities, Skype and Skype for Business are practically different applications that require separate accounts, but at first the name of the new service misled many users who thought of it as an updated version of Skype.

Now everything has fallen into place, but if you are still confused and not sure what the similarities and differences between Skype and Skype for Business are, then the information in this post will be useful to you. After reading, you'll know everything you need to know about Skype for Business.

Ability to conduct conversations between hundreds of people simultaneously

The standard Skype client currently limits conferences to 25 people. Skype for Business raises this limit to 250, making it much more suitable for large-scale presentations. Participants in Skype or Skype for Business meetings do not need to join using the Skype client; they can do so from a landline or mobile phone, but there is an additional cost.

Seamless integration with Office applications

Skype for Business integrates directly into Microsoft Office 365. Essentially, this means that the user can use Outlook directly with chat, video calls, conference calls, and many other features that Skype for Business offers. For example, you can simply click on a contact to start a conversation with him or schedule a meeting. You can take advantage of this integration in other Office 365 applications. In particular, you can start a meeting and allow other users to see your screen without leaving PowerPoint or Excel.

Safety

All traffic through Skype (both Skype and Skype for Business) is encrypted using the AES algorithm. However, Skype for Business uses stronger authentication methods that provide more control over your account and access to it.

Conference hall

In cases where two remote offices want to communicate with each other via video, Skype for Business is a very good choice. The new Skype Room Systems feature allows Skype to be used with Polycom cameras, monitors and audio equipment, while the Microsoft Surface Hub can be used as an online digital whiteboard. Skype for Business also integrates with a number of enterprise-class PBX systems, providing a convenient way to communicate over VOIP phones.

Price

Skype is available for free, but Skype for Business is a paid service that has two main plans. The Online 1 plan will cost you RUB 100 per user per month (annual subscription), but it only covers basic features. In fact, "Online 1" will give you very little compared to standard Skype. But you can get a lot more, including high-definition video in group conferences, the ability to join meetings via a web browser and desktop sharing, if you choose the Online 2 plan for 275 rubles per month.

Have a great day!

Program Skype, which you use at home, is great for small businesses with no more than 20 employees. It is completely free, unless you need to call landlines and mobile phones..

Skype meetings allow you to communicate with working group members for free. You can collaborate with up to 10 users simultaneously (maximum of three users after 60 days) using group web conferencing in high definition on any device or operating system. You can share screens, use a laser pointer, or use a whiteboard for collaboration. In addition, meeting organizers can access professional controls, such as muting or unmuting participants' microphones. This service is currently only available to users in the US.

Skype for Business allows you to add up to 250 people to online meetings, Provides enterprise-grade security, the ability to manage employee accounts, and is built into Office applications. Pricing starts at $2 per month for one user.

Ready to learn more?

Skype Manager is a corporate control panel that allows you to centrally create Skype accounts, pay your users' bills, and give them access to various features.

2015. Microsoft launched Skype for Business

Microsoft has officially started selling Skype for Business - this is the new name for the Lync corporate communications system (and even earlier it was called Microsoft Office Communications Server). Not only the name has changed, but also the philosophy. Unlike Lync, the new solution provides business users with the familiar Skype interface, but with the security and administration options necessary for business (message encryption, authorization through Active Directory, user control panel, integration with office PBXs). And of course, now employees will be able to chat, audio and video not only among themselves, but also with any of the 300 million Skype users. Both the local version of Skype for Business (which can be installed on your own server) and the online version of Skype for Business Online, which is included in Office 365, are already available. ***

2010. Skype Connect is officially available

Skype Connect (the new name for Skype for SIP) has exited the beta status it has been in since its launch last year. Skype Connect allows you to connect a corporate IP PBX to the Skype network. Thus, employees have the opportunity to use regular office phones to make outgoing calls via IP telephony at low Skype rates. In addition, the company can receive incoming calls from Skype users and process them using its IP PBX (including distributing them among employees who use regular phones). You can also place a Skype “Click to Call” button on your website to handle calls from the website in the same way. Skype Connect can be connected in the Skype Manager control panel, which is also used for centralized payment for Skype in the company. Skype Connect costs €4.95 per channel (+ regular Skype call rates). One channel can only make one incoming or outgoing call at a time.

2010. Skype is preparing new products for business

Today Skype filed an application for an initial public offering on the stock exchange. The company plans to attract $100 million in investments. Along with the application, Skype published some indicators of its business and talked about plans for its further development. It turned out that the company was doing quite well. In the first 6 months of 2010, Skype earned $406 million, which is about 25% more than last year. However, given that Skype's user base already numbers more than 560 million (this is more than Facebook), the company's management justifiably wants to earn at least an order of magnitude more.

In addition, they are concerned that almost 90% of Skype's revenue comes from a single service - SkypeOut. Therefore, one of the main goals of attracting investment in companies is the creation of new paid business applications. ***

2010. Skype Business Control Panel has become Skype Manager

The online control panel for business users Skype Business Control Panel has received new functionality and a new name - Skype Manager. Using Skype Manager, company administrators can create accounts for employees, manage them, enable or disable certain functions, create voice mailboxes, set tariff plans and pay the general bill. In addition, administrators can monitor Skype usage by employees in real time (by department, by group, individually, and by company as a whole). Among other things, the solution can also be used to configure Skype for SIP. Skype Manager is available as a free trial until the end of October 2010.

2009. AllVoip presents Skype gateway for corporate users

AllVoip presents the AV6104GSM VoIP gateway for small and medium-sized businesses. The PBX and Skype converter gives corporate users access to all the benefits of using the Skype service. AllVoip AV6104GSM - PBX and Skype converter with GSM support connects regular office phones to the Skype network, which allows you to contact all Skype users in the world for free, as well as call PSTN and GSM network subscribers at the low cost of the SkypeOut tariff. The converter allows you to use Skype, FXO, FXS, GSM, CDMA, as well as an interface router. AV6104GSM users can manage 4 Skype lines from one computer. The converter opens up the possibility of multi-user conference calls. The converter is equipped with a fully functional network administration system. The system records all information exchange operations and provides the system administrator with a complete connection history report.

2007. Skype attracts small businesses with new service package

Skype offers a new Small Business Pack for small businesses, which includes the Skype suite of programs (Skype Pro, Skype for Windows Business Edition) and a subscription to telephone services for several enterprise users at once. The Small Business Pack costs €99 (plus VAT). A specific benefit of Skype Pro is free local and long distance phone calls within the customer's home country for all employees using it. The software has a control panel that allows you to assign each user your own limit on the use of funds, thereby providing complete control over telephone expenses. However, despite the attractive features, it is not clear that small businesses will trust Skype unconditionally after the recent major outage of Skype services.

2007. Corporate Skype

Skype has begun testing a version of its Internet telephony service aimed at large enterprises, and is inviting companies with more than 1,000 employees to participate in the preview program. As Skype notes, its service in its current form is already used in small and medium-sized enterprises, especially after the release at the end of last year of Skype 3.0 with functions that provide the system administrator with the ability to control the use of the service on the network. A message about the preparation of an enterprise-level version of Skype, instead of posting it on the company’s official website, was sent by the company to a number of owners of online diaries

2007. Skype has come up with features for corporate workers

Skype has announced the release of a business version of the Skype for Business service. As reported in a press release published on the company's website, Skype can now be installed on multiple computers using the Windows Installer, and administrators have access to more advanced options when setting up the program. Separate items include “credits” allocated to users for conversations with “external” subscribers (SkypeOut). In addition, Skype for Business includes so-called Extras, which include video conferencing and the ability to organize a call center.

2006. Skype 3.0 for Windows – corporate version

On the day of the release of the first public beta version of Skype 3.0 for Windows, an alternative assembly appeared on the developers’ website, intended primarily for corporate users - Skype 3.0 for Windows Business version. The main purpose of this version is to provide enterprise system administrators with greater opportunities to control and manage Skype clients on the corporate network. To achieve greater security when using Skype, IT Administrators will be able to centrally configure settings for the entire Skype network of an enterprise using Windows Group Policies. Skype client security policies can be set using a single configuration file - Skype Group Policies Administrative Template (example). The Skype 3.0 for Windows Business version distribution is presented as an MSI file.

Skype for Business: for important matters

Skype is preparing VoIP for business

The new software modification will allow system administrators to use standard Windows management tools to determine how Skype connects to the Internet, or disable half a dozen software features, including file transfers. The use of Skype in business is widespread. Of the 113 million registered Skype users, 30% use it for business. However, the proprietary communication protocols used by the Skype communication system have increased enterprise concerns about network security. Theoretically, it was possible to use Skype as a transport for transmitting unwanted software. Together with experts from Intel, Skype has developed the ability, like a proxy server, to disable network access from the Skype software if a security problem is identified.

2006. Skype wants to go corporate

The company's "wish list" for further expansion into the enterprise market, released Wednesday, included policy-based enterprise authentication. Automatic authentication based on PKI (public key infrastructure) does not allow the second party to determine who exactly is using the terminal at the moment. Companies will be offered a mechanism for creating access policies, with the ability to create accounts for each employee. “If you have 200 people in a department, managers want to be able to add people to the access list when they hire and remove them when they leave. These are the features that large companies need. Skype is currently not suitable for large business use." Among other technologies that will solve the problem, support for LDAP - "lightweight directory access protocol" - in Skype software is being considered. The protocol will connect the software terminal with other applications.

2006. Skype promises to expand its business services

Skype plans to offer new business opportunities. But this will not be a new VoIP product, but an expansion of the existing service. Skype already has a number of features for business customers, such as the ability for multiple users to use one account to pay for Skype services. In addition, the company cooperates with equipment manufacturers such as telephone headset supplier Plantronics. Approximately 30% of Skype customers use its business services. First of all, issues of data protection and software support on portable devices will be worked out for such users. Skype is becoming increasingly useful for business customers looking to reduce their mobile phone costs. Skype software already runs on Windows Mobile and is currently being developed for Symbian.

2006. Skype for Business

Skype has announced the release of Skype for Business. The new solution is addressed to very small companies with fewer than 10 employees; according to Skype, they make up approximately half of the network’s business subscribers. The solution complements the company's existing business offerings in three areas. First, a special Skype.biz Web site dedicated to Skype for Business has been created. Secondly, the list of proposed subscriber equipment includes new Voyager 510 headsets from Plantronics, which operate via the Bluetooth interface and allow you to switch from an Internet phone to a cell phone and back. Other products offered include the Actiontec Vosky Exchange gateway, which allows up to four Skype calls to be received on an office PBX; Linksys wireless Internet phone, adapted to work with Skype; Polycom's Computer Calling Kit for connecting Polycom SoundStation2T and SoundStation2WT (wireless) conferencing systems to an Internet telephone network; High quality USB Internet Speakerphone from USRobotics.