Microsoft bought Skype in 2011 for $8.5 billion and since then have been working on merging it with their unified communication platform, Lync. In May 2013, Microsoft took the first steps toward connecting Lync and Skype, meaning that the two platforms could connect using audio. Earlier this year, Microsoft demonstrated both platforms making video calls, and executives hinted then that the two platforms would eventually converge.
Since its introduction a decade ago, Skype has changed the way people live their lives, bringing family and friends together from all over the world. Today it is used by more than 300 million people for messaging, calling and sharing. It allows people and groups to connect from far and wide, truly making the world a smaller place.
For the past 10 years, Microsoft has simplified and unified all of the different tools people used to communicate for work through Lync. They made Lync a core part of Office, transforming the way we do business. Today, thousands of organisations count on Lync for voice, video and conferencing.
During yesterday’s announcement Giovanni Mezgec, General Manager of Product Marketing for Skype, said that during the first half of 2015 the next version of Lync will become Skype for Business. At that time, Microsoft will phase out the Lync name.
The idea is to take all the usability of Lync and combine it with the simplicity of Skype. Microsoft believes that Skype for Business will again transform the way people communicate by giving organisations reach to hundreds of millions of Skype users outside the confines of their business.
1plex opinion:
“We’re very excited about what with means for unified comms. Integrating the strengths of Lync and Skype will offer untold advantages in business, opening up the door to quite literally millions of Skype users without compromising security.
“At 1plex we have done work for clients in the past who want a UC solution with this capability. We are very excited about now being able to offer a true unified comms solution. We believe Skype for Business will break down communication barriers connecting people like no other solution can do.”