Updated: July 15, 2020 (May 23, 2016)

Skype for Business OS X Client in Preview

Michael analyzed and wrote about Microsoft's operating systems, including the Windows client OS, as well as compliance and governance. Michael... more

A new Skype for Business client for the OS X operating system is in preview and should be released in Aug. or Sept. 2016. The current client for OS X users is a Lync for Mac client released in 2011. The new Skype for Business client should offer closer feature parity to the Skype for Business client on Windows. Features will arrive in a series of phased previews throughout the summer, but features could be cut to meet a release schedule, and enterprise customers may need Software Assurance to be entitled to the new client.

Phased Previews Add Features

The preview will release in three cumulative stages leading to public availability in the third quarter of 2016:

Phase one, which started in April, displays Outlook meetings for today and tomorrow in the new client and allows users to join meetings, invite other attendees, view meeting content, and participate in meeting video and chat
Phase two, likely to start in late May, adds support for instant messaging, presence, and contacts

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