Microsoft connected Lync and Skype
June 03, 2013 | Author: Adam Levine
Almost 300 million people around the world use Skype. This is a very large customer base, that's why many companies add skype-address to their contacts in order to offer customers a convenient communication channel. But in large companies using Skype at the workplace - doesn't fit the corporate security policy. Therefore, the integration of Skype with Lync communication server can become a breakthrough for deploying Skype in large companies. And thus Microsoft can get a significant competitive advantage over Cisco, Avaya and other enterprise communication vendors. That's was the main reason why Microsoft acquired Skype for a lot of money.
So now Lync (or Lync Online in Office 365) users can add Skype contacts to their contact list, see their online status, chat and call them. The same actions are available for Skype users.
What is not implemented yet: video calling, conferencing, support for Skype mobile apps. Microsoft promised to add these features later.
See also: Top 10 VoIP services