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Changes are coming to Lync Online in Office 365. Lync is joining the Skype family, so in the coming months, Lync will be changing to Skype for Business. Please check back because this page will be updated frequently to provide you with important information about the Skype for Business client and the Skype for Business Online service. We hope that by giving you this information, it will help you through this transition.
Release date – The release date of Skype for Business will be announced at a later time.
Benefits – After your organization is transitioned to Skype for Business, you and your users will benefit from:
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Skype-inspired design With the same look and feel of the Skype client, your users will benefit from the same familiar user interface and ease of use with the new Skype for Business clients.
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Global reach Voice and video connectivity to the entire Skype network.
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Full Lync feature set Because Skype for Business builds on existing Lync features, no features or functionality will be lost.
What to expect – Everything Lync is becoming Skype for Business. . . . . . . .
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Lync 2013 clients is changing to Skype for Business clients.
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Lync Web app is changing to Skype for Business web app.
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Lync admin center is changing to Skype for Business admin center.
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Lync Online is changing to Skype for Business Online.
How is the Lync client experience changing?
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Contact window and features are inspired by Skype
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Meetings experience and controls with the look and feel of Skype
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Skype for Business taskbar icon
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Skype for Business title bars
The Lync mode Skype for Business client
The Skype for Business client
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Windows Search will return both Lync and Skype for Business
The Skype design vs. the Lync mode design – In a future update posted to this page, you will be able to change from the new Skype client design to the familiar Lync client design for your users. These settings will allow you to toggle between the two designs that your users will use for Skype for Business. Part of the update to this page, we will provide detailed instructions on how you can change from the new Skype design to the Lync mode Skype design.
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| The taskbar icons and title bar names will display “Skype for Business” regardless of the design you will use. |
What else is coming? We will be releasing a series of adoption resources including documents that will guide you through the process of making a successful transition to Skype for Business. These resources will be released by the end of March 2015. These resources will be available here.
