Microsoft finally puts the Nail in Skype for Business Online’s coffin

We knew it was coming and it’s actually taken longer than many people thought, but just 2 years after the first debut of Microsoft Teams, Microsoft has announced the Skype for Business Online will no longer be available from 31st July 2021 – which is two years from today!

Here’s what we know

  • Skype for Business Online will be officially retired on July 31 2021 and after that date the service will no longer be accessible in any region.
  • Current Skype for Business Online customer will experience no impact, changes or feature additions to their existing service
  • Organisations are advised to start planning their move to Teams soon and can access resources through Microsoft or their partner
  • Skype for Business Server is still supported until at least 2025.

Why now?

Microsoft has been working heavily on Teams since its launch which was always intended to fully replace Skype for Business Online at somepoint.

There gave been a plethora of new updates releases to Teams in recent months especially around voice, auto attendant services and support for direct routing (bring your own SIP). At Microsoft’s Global Partner Conference arlier this month, Microsoft also announced that their full APIs stack for voice have been released meaning that ISVs and software partners now finally able to bring their custom extensibility apps such as Contact Centre Solutions and Call Recording into Teams.

Unlike Skype for Business Online, it’s key to remember that Teams is not just a cloud phone system, but a fully integrated enterprise chat, collaboration and productivity platform with an extensive set of phone features.

Today Team and Skype for Business (online and on-premise) can co exist and even integrate to varying degrees with each other but each and all of the these modes have been designed with eventual migration to Teams in mind.

From September 1 this year, Microsoft will also discontinue the Skype for Business Online service for new users (meaning new customers cannot have Skype for Business Online) , providing them only with the option of Microsoft Teams as their central place for communication and cloud voice – or ofcourse Skype for Business Server.

Any organisation already using Skype for Business Online will retain all access, including the ability to add new users but organisations need to start planning for the migration which will turn off for good in 2 years time.

What about Skype for Business Server?

Any organisation using (or planning to use and deploy) Skype for Business Server will not be affected, and the Microsoft have committed to supporting the service until October 14, 2025 at the very least. Skype for Business Server 2019 has recently been released and comes with it, extensive integration to Teams to make integration and longer term migration possible.

How should I get started on migration from Skype to Teams?

Microsoft provide a comprehensive set of technical guidance and planning resources for Teams, and of course you can work with your Microsoft Partner to help you plan, pilot, migrate and train users.

That’s all for now.

Thanks

Rob

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