Skype for Business Online Retirement Begins

• Skype for Business Online is taking the first steps toward its eventual retirement.
• Microsoft is limiting new deployments and access to basic subscriptions.
• Existing customers should expect increasing pressure in the coming year to migrate to Teams.

Skype for Business Online’s core functionality has been incorporated into Microsoft Teams, with the intent of eventually ending the Skype for Business Online service in favor of Teams. While no end-of-service date has been announced, Microsoft has begun limiting access to Skype for Business Online plans for some customers. Organizations using Skype for Business Online should begin planning transition to Teams now to reduce potential disruption later.

Limits on Purchases, Reduced Profile

In July 2018, Microsoft announced completion of its roadmap for bringing Skype for Business Online functionality to Teams, part of its previously announced plans for Teams to eventually replace Skype for Business Online. Since that announcement, Microsoft has limited the ability to purchase or provision new Skype for Business Online subscriptions for certain plans and small customers.