For those not clear on this matter, Microsoft’s strategic direction for unified communications & collaboration is Microsoft Teams – ultimately displacing Skype for Business & Skype for Business Online.
Our guidance to our customers consistently reflects this. The biggest of this highlights the fact that Skype for Business Online is already no longer available to small & medium businesses as of last year, Oct 2018:
- FAQ – Upgrading from Skype for Business to Microsoft Teams
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/faq-journey
“Will you continue to invest in improving Skype for Business Online?
Our vision for bringing together Intelligent Communications and collaboration is focused on Teams. We plan to continue to support the Skype for Business service and client in Office 365. We plan to continue to support the Skype for Business clients to access on-premises server and online services. There is no end-of-support date at this time.
Starting October 1, 2018, new Office 365 customers with fewer than 500 seats will be onboarded to Teams and will not have access to Skype for Business Online. Tenants already using Skype for Business Online will be able to continue doing so (including provisioning new users) until they complete their transition to Teams. To learn more please read Microsoft Teams is now the primary client for meetings and calling in Office 365.”
Additionally, from a press release standpoint, the two pages that highlight Microsoft’s direction in displacing Skype for Business & stepping customers up to Microsoft Teams includes the following:
- A new vision for intelligent communications in Office 365
“Teams will evolve as the primary client for intelligent communications in Office 365, replacing the current Skype for Business client…”
“…We encourage every Office 365 customer to begin using Teams today. Office 365 customers currently using Skype for Business can find guidance and resources on the intelligent communications page in the FastTrack portal…”
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2017/09/25/a-new-vision-for-intelligent-communications-in-office-365/ - Microsoft Teams is now a complete meeting and calling solution
“Make the move to Teams:
Over the last few weeks we have released resources, tools and guidance to help current Skype for Business Online customers with their upgrade to Teams. This includes: - Self-serve guidance featuring a proven success framework for upgrading to Teams, including best practices, guidance, and resources for customers who are ready to use Skype for Business and Teams side-by-side or to fully transition to Teams.
- Upgrade tools in the Microsoft Teams & Skype for Business Admin Center that enable customers to migrate users from Skype for Business to Teams. These tools are starting to roll out now and are expected to be available to all Office 365 customers later this calendar year.”
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Microsoft-Teams-Blog/Microsoft-Teams-is-now-a-complete-meeting-and-calling-solution/ba-p/236042
kurtsh
