Come September, onboarding of new Office 365 users will automatically include Teams as the new normal.
The consumer version of Skype is not affected by these changes and there are no public plans to switch off the Skype for Business Server.
Skype for Business Online will be retired on July 31, 2021, and after that date the service will no longer be accessible. Between now and then, current Skype for Business Online customers will experience no change in service, and they’ll be able to continue to add new users as needed. However, starting September 1, 2019, Microsoft will onboard all new Office 365 customers directly to Teams for chat, meetings, and calling.
Since its introduction in 2014, Skype for Business has been a valuable tool for millions of people around the world. By combining instant messaging, calling, and video into a single app, the product established an exciting, new vision for business communications. Microsoft Teams is the next chapter in that vision, and with today’s news Microsoft are not only announcing the retirement of the Skype for Business Online service, we’re also communicating our confidence in Teams.
After more than two years in market, Teams is ready for our most demanding customers – and Microsoft are convinced that you’re going to love it! If you’re a current Skype for Business Online customer, start planning your migration today. We’re committed to helping you every step of the way, and we can’t wait for you to experience the new way to work.
