Late last year, Microsoft announced that it would be slowly phasing out Skype for Business in favor of Microsoft Teams, the tech giant’s all-in-one, cloud-based chat app. In a September press release, Microsoft Teams general manager Lori Wright wrote that “Teams will evolve as the primary client for intelligent communications in Office 365, replacing the current Skype for Business client over time.”
While exclusive use of Teams might define the future of communication for Microsoft clients, Skype for Business is still going strong, with a new version of Skype for Business Server planned for the second half of the 2018 calendar year. At the time of its announcement, Microsoft recommended running the clients side by side to ease the transition and explore the needs of your organization and how Teams can accommodate them.
We’re still a long way from a single, monolithic Microsoft solution. Until everyone is under the same umbrella, Teams users and Skype for Business users who wish to collaborate and communicate with each other will need solutions that accommodate both platforms.
And hey, what do you know? StarLeaf, which powers our Prime Call Cloud UC platform, has just become the first provider to step up with a native Microsoft meeting-room solution that is compatible with both Skype for Business and Teams.
StarLeaf’s GT Mini series, which offers a range of all-in-one conferencing and collaboration options, will work seamlessly with both platforms.
“Throughout our product development we maintain a sharp focus on the user experience. This absolute commitment has allowed us to deliver a simple and consistent meeting room environment--regardless of whether the system is joining a Skype for Business or a Microsoft Teams meeting,” said Jonathan Williams, Head of StarLeaf’s Microsoft Business Unit.
The GT Mini series gives users complete control over their collaboration and conferencing experiences, with HD voice and video that works with existing voice and video installations from Cisco, Polycom, Lifesize, etc. Intuitive and easy to use, the GT Mini 3330 can be up and running within minutes of plug-in. With guest invitations, users can meet with anyone, anywhere, any time.
So don’t worry about changes in the Microsoft landscape leaving you out in the cold. StarLeaf will be there to make sure you’re a part of the conversation.
Learn more about StarLeaf and its many video conferencing solutions and please contact us if you have any questions about pricing or implementation. We will have one of our experts get back to you shortly. If there’s something else you’re looking for, use our Advanced Search tool to find it.
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