Skype For Business Mac Free Download

by



Views:

Skype for Business (SFB) is a business-focused app that allows you to instant message, phone and video call, screen share, host and record meetings, and generally collaborate with your colleagues. If you’ve ever used Microsoft Lync, then you’re in luck – Lync was rebranded to Skype for Business in 2015, refining Lync’s core. While in a peer-to-peer session between a Windows Skype for Business client and a Mac Skype for Business client, and sharing is started by the Mac Skype for Business client, the Windows Skype for Business client will not be able to see the Mac user's desktop if VBSS is disabled in the environment.

The court uses the app Skype for Business for video appearances, conferences, and other kinds of virtual meetings. There are two ways to connect to a meeting:

Join a meeting through a browser

Use the web version of Skype for Business through a browser if you are invited to a meeting. You will not be installing an app on your computer.

Skype For Business Mac Free Download
  1. On the date and time of the meeting, open the email with the meeting information
  2. Click on the link for 'Try the Skype web app' at the bottom of the email
    For more help, go to the Microsoft website.

Download and install Skype for Business App on a Mac

Skype for Business app is only supported on OS X El Capitan (version 10.11) or later OS X. To check the macOS version, choose About This Mac from the Apple menu. If your Mac is running an earlier macOS, go to https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206886 to see if you can upgrade to OS X El Capitan (version 10.11).

  1. Download Skype for Business from the Microsoft website at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=54108
    Note: This app is not available through the App Store on your Mac.
  2. Install the app by double clicking on the PKG file. If you can't find the file, try looking in the Downloads folder from the Finder.
  3. Follow the on screen instructions to install.
  4. Click the app from Finder > Applications or the Launchpad to start

Skype For Business Free Download For Laptop

Note: If you get the message “Skype.app can’t be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software' when you try to open the app:

  1. Go to Finder > Applications
  2. Find 'Skype for Business' on the list of installed applications
  3. Press the Control key while clicking on 'Skype for Business'
  4. Choose 'Open' from the menu and in the dialog screen that appears, click Open
  5. Enter your admin name and password when prompted
Participating in a Virtual Court AppearanceSkype for Business - Best Practices and TipsSkype for Business Microphone Issues in MacOS Catalina 10.15Updating the macOS on a Mac Computer

Skype for Business (SFB) is a business-focused app that allows you to instant message, phone and video call, screen share, host and record meetings, and generally collaborate with your colleagues. If you’ve ever used Microsoft Lync, then you’re in luck – Lync was rebranded to Skype for Business in 2015, refining Lync’s core functionalities ever since.
Please note this is a separate product from Skype for consumers. It’s an important distinction to make since SFB should not be viewed as a phone replacement or VOIP Service. It cannot make emergency phone calls. It serves as a lightweight collaboration tool. Any business using the Microsoft ecosystem, particularly small businesses, should take a look at SFB. It seamlessly integrates with Outlook from where you can create Skype meetings and populate your contact list. It offers a variety of plan options at attractive prices, though making sense of that spider web proves difficult (see here). Last but not least, Microsoft has already announced that Teams will be replacing SFB and when sunset occurs, it isn't clear.

An enjoyable experience

Simplicity is its strength

At its core, SFB allows you to select another SFB user from a contact list and from there, start an instant message conversation, make a call (video if you have that capability), or share your screen. Additional features build from that basic premise.

Easy learning curve and intuitive UI

The application tucks toward the side of your screen, and goes for the tall and skinny look. Your name falls at the top along with your picture, availability status (available, away, do not disturb, etc.), and a personal message for your contacts to see if you choose to write one. Below that sit four icons across the menu – Contacts, Conversations, Meetings, Settings. These determine what you see in the body of the application. It defaults to Contacts, which means most of the time you’ll be looking at your contact list when the app is open. Your contacts each have a picture, availability status, and video capability indication. Managers can check on the idle time of their employees as SFB shows a timestamp for how long someone has been away from their computer.

From there go about your usual use case. Double click on your colleague’s icon and up comes the conversation window. More icons appear allowing you to make a call, share your screen, or send a file. You can also find a “+” icon on the upper right to expand this conversation to more people. Invite the whole office, if you'd like! Some subscription levels allow up to 250 people in a conversation.

The SFB plug-in for Outlook rocks. Once installed, all you need to schedule a Skype meeting from Outlook is to make a new meeting, click on the SFB icon plug-in, and it auto populates your conference information in the body of the meeting. Add your attendees, an agenda, and pick a time, and you are off to your next game of conference call bingo.

Flexibility for including non-SFB users to your meetings and calls help SFB stand-out as a great tool for collaboration. When invited to a SFB meeting, non-SFB users have the ability to download the SFB Web App to their browser. The app allows for HD video conferencing, IM in meetings, presentation viewing, desktop sharing, whiteboard, lobby, and presenter access controls. The app also enables PC-based audio and video. The only drawback is that other SFB functionalities like viewing a user’s presence or contact information are unavailable.

Mac

Where can you run this program?

Luckily, Microsoft serves up a free client that you can try. According to the website, the free basic client provides presence, instant messaging, and conferencing features. If you are licensed for Office 365 ProPlus, Office 365 Enterprise E3 and Office 365 Enterprise E4, you are also licensed for the full Skype for Business Windows desktop client, which includes additional features including advanced telephone support, archiving, and compliance features.

Is there a better alternative?

Microsoft has made it clear that Teams will replace SFB but gives no clear date when the service in question will shut down. While the UI of SFB is preferable, Teams has some clear advantages when it comes to features, specially for larger organizations. Persistent chat (think chat rooms) and greater integration with other Microsoft Office suite products is one advantage of Teams. It’s also the future-proof choice given more development is unlikely with SFB.

Skype For Business Mac Download Free

Slack is another very popular alternative. It has one of the best UIs in the business; mass adoption so you’re bound to find others in your organization that have some experience with it; and a target painted on its back: Microsoft developed Teams to compete with it.

Skype For Business Download

Our take

Small businesses should take a hard look at SFB for their communication needs. That is, if they don’t already subscribe to Office 365 which bundles it. Large businesses may want the more robust features of full-fledged VOIP services or Teams. Its simplicity is its forte. Microsoft Teams – the replacement for SFB – can appear cluttered and less intuitive, albeit more capable.

Download Skype For Business Free App

Should you download?

Skype For Business 2015 Free Download For Mac

Does your office participate in the modern, remote-work era where it might need IM, video calling, and teleconferencing? Does it use Microsoft products? If so, it probably already has SFB and if not, the free version lies a few clicks away. So, go for it.

Skype For Business Free Download

6.1.32.129