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With the retirement of Skype for Business Online in sight, we’re working to ensure customers transition to Microsoft Teams by July 31, 2021, including users homed online in hybrid configurations. But Skype for Business Online customers aren’t the only ones who can benefit from upgrading to Teams. Organizations using Skype for Business on-premises have also experienced the transformational impact Teams can have on communication, collaboration, and culture.
Teams is where innovation happens.
Though mainstream and extended support continues for versions of Skype for Business Server and Lync Server, our focus is squarely on Teams and its ecosystem of applications, devices, and services. We’re continually developing new capabilities in Teams to meet our customers’ evolving needs, while enabling Teams experiences to scale across devices and varying connectivity.
We recently announced Microsoft Teams reached 115 million daily active users, a clear reflection of the positive impact of Teams, leading to increased efficiency and faster outcomes for organizations across the globe.
Realize the full value of Teams.
Customers of all sizes and technical configurations have successfully transitioned from Skype for Business Server to Teams for their communication, collaboration and platform needs. We hear example after example of Teams’ ability to bring people, data, applications, and processes together to get things done. For instance, DSM, a global nutrition, health, and sustainable living company that decommissioned their on-premises deployment of Skype for Business as part of their move to Teams.
DSM’s upgrade to Teams was key to a digital transformation strategy to become more agile, connected, and empowered, while eliminating the cost and effort to maintain their Skype for Business Server setup. A successful change management strategy allowed DSM to migrate over 19,000 employees to Teams in just three months.
Not ready for a full transition to Teams? No problem.
We recognize some organizations may need to maintain their Skype for Business Server deployment. The great news is you can still benefit from Teams without a full transition. Whether you plan to deploy select capabilities of Teams such as collaboration and meetings while maintaining chat and calling capabilities in Skype for Business, or use the overlapping capabilities method in which access to both Teams and Skype for Business enables a broader range of Teams functionality, you can choose the path that works for your organization.
Start with meetings.
Though there are many possible paths to Teams, meetings can be a great way to begin. “Meetings First” is a coexistence configuration optimized for Skype for Business Server organizations with Enterprise Voice on premises who want to start using Teams meetings as rapidly as possible. In this mode, users create meetings in Teams while continuing to use Skype for Business for chat, calling, and presence. There is no overlap of modalities between Teams and Skype for Business. Chat, calling, and presence are “on” in Skype for Business and “off” in Teams. This enables unique scenarios between Skype for Business and Teams that enhance the meetings experience during coexistence, as well as interoperability scenarios with Teams Only users.
Offers to help you get to Microsoft Teams.
To help our customers experience the best of what Microsoft Teams can offer, we announced new promotions that customers can take advantage of today:
Contact your Microsoft account representative for more details.
Everything you need to plan a successful Teams upgrade today.
Join thousands of organizations who have benefitted by upgrading from Skype for Business to Teams, through faster decision making, improved meeting quality, and more efficient communications.
Whether you’re coming from a pure on-premises deployment or a hybrid configuration, technical preparation and user readiness can ensure a successful journey to Teams. Take advantage of the great resources to help plan your upgrade to Teams, configure coexistence and interoperability, and get the most from your Teams deployment.
See you on Teams!
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