It was only to be expected, given their similarities in function and use: Microsoft Lync will be called Skype for Business from the start of 2015!
Lync has been officially launched since 2010, and continues to be used by thousands of businesses around the world:
Why the change?
Just under a year after the launch of Lync, Microsoft has decided to acquire Skype, a major IP telephony service, creating new opportunities for synergies between the group’s products and affirming the company’s desire to build on this new range of services.
On November 11, 2014, Microsoft announced “Skype for Business” on the Skype blog.
Until then, the two products, far from being competitors, were complementary:
- Skype is entirely based on the consumer experience: a “freemium” solution, so you need to pay for additional services, easy design, advertising…
- Lync, for its part, is based on the corporate experience: highly integrated with Outlook, with, for example, the words “in session” displayed in your Lync profile, customization according to corporate rules (for example, certain departments must not communicate with each other), video conferencing with the possibility of bringing together a large number of collaborators, possible connection to the Active Directory, enhanced security…
If Microsoft has now chosen to bring Lync and Skype closer together, it’s to demonstrate the complementary nature of the two products: where some might have seen a competing product, Microsoft has quickly made it easier to connect the 2 interfaces. 
Finally, Lync will also benefit from Skype ‘s reputation by adopting this new name.
What’s in it for the end user?
According to Gurdeep Pall, Skype’s Corporate Vice President, no hardware upgrades will be required.
Lync Server customers will simply be able to upgrade Lync Server 2013 to the new Skype for Business Server in their datacenters.
As we are a Lync reseller in French-speaking Switzerland, please do not hesitate to contact us for further information:
