Features Licensed by Skype for Business Server CALs

Client access to Skype for Business Server 2015 is licensed with three different Client Access Licenses (CALs): Standard CAL, Enterprise CAL, and Plus CAL. All three types can be purchased for each user or for each accessing device, usually a PC or desktop handset. The Standard CAL is required, and the Enterprise CAL and Plus CAL are optional additive CALs.

The Standard CAL (pictured at the bottom) licenses Skype for Business Server’s basic features, including the following:

• Instant messaging (IMs) with one or more other users
• Viewing other users’ presence information, such as Busy and Away
• Initiating immediate transfer of a file to another person
• Participating in continuously updated discussion boards (called persistent chat or group chat)
• Searching for people in their enterprise by skill set (skill search)
• Placing and receiving Voice/Video over IP (device-to-device) voice and video calls using Skype for Business client software
• Participating in, but not initiating,