Lync and Skype for Business Roadmap Update

Microsoft recently announced the Lync product family will be renamed Skype for Business at the next release, which is planned for the first half of 2015. This is a name change only and should not affect licensing, upgrade rights, upgrade paths, or backward compatibility with prior versions of Lync. With the next release, new desktop and mobile clients (based on the current Skype user interface) are expected to replace existing clients. The Lync Online service (renamed Skype for Business Online and offered through Office 365) should introduce external telephone services that should also support hybrid configurations, enabling coexistence with on-premises deployments.

Roadmap Includes Lync Renaming, Cloud Improvements, and Broader Reach

The Lync client and server software enables a unified communication solution for users to view and publish presence status (for example, available or away) and initiate communications sessions that include instant messaging, voice, video, and application and desktop sharing. “Enterprise voice” capabilities enable Lync installations to integrate with or replace on-premises private branch exchange (PBX) telephone networks. The Microsoft-hosted Lync Online service, a component of Office 365 service plans, offers most Lync functions, except for enterprise voice, which is expected in 2015.