Skype Consumer Service

As managing vice president, Rob Helm covers Microsoft collaboration and content management. His 25-plus years of experience analyzing Microsoft’s technology... more

Skype (not Skype for Business) is a Microsoft-hosted communications service for consumers and small businesses that offers voice, video, instant messaging (IM), presence, and file sharing.

Compared to Skype for Business

Skype has 300 million users and a global deployment, and it is often able to provide better international dialing rates than many traditional telecommunications providers.

Skype telephony features offer many of the same capabilities as an on-premises private branch exchange (PBX) and Skype for Business installation. However, it is not an enterprise replacement for either one. Similar to a PBX, Skype enables inbound and outbound calling, connectivity to public telephone networks, caller ID, and voice mail. However, it lacks critical enterprise features, including call transferring, call parking, enhanced 911 emergency location service, and porting of existing phone numbers.

The service also lacks other advanced functionality that is available with Skype for Business:

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