Last month, Microsoft launched the Skype for Business app for its Windows phones. However, we might not have to wait all that long for the new app to hit Android and iOS. Microsoft announced since the launch of the app for the Windows devices that they will release a technical preview for both Android and iOS devices.
And in case you are just hearing about Skype for Business for the very first time, the app is basically a revamped version of Lync 2013, which is an instant messaging software designed for big businesses. Nevertheless, it has been rebranded and given a familiar and new user interface that resembles Skype. So therefore, it is now called Skype for Business.
Microsoft claims that their new Skype for Business app will come with a dashboard where you will be able to access all of your contacts, but on top of this, it will also feature reminders and upcoming meetings. The In-Meeting and In-Call experiences have also been revamped in order to make it a lot easier to navigate and use. The new app also features video that fills up the entire screen of your mobile device.
That being said, this is still a technical preview and this means that it is currently in beta testing and it isn’t quite ready for the population as of yet. But if you would like to participate in the tech preview, the IT administrator from your company has to go to the Skype website and nominate Android and iOS devices and users in order to be taken into consideration by Microsoft. But if this is not to your liking, you could always wait for the official release of the Skype for Business app for both of these operating systems.
The business focused Skype app will feature recent conversations, upcoming meetings and contacts on its dashboard, compared to the regular recent conversations panel in the old Skype app for Android and iOS. The search feature has also been improved in the app and now allows you to search by phone number, email, last name and first name within the Global Address List. Your phone contacts are also included in the iOS version of the app.
The calling experience in Skype for Business is also a little different, with bigger buttons used for muting, managing your calls and adding participants. Switching back and forth between text and video is now a lot simpler as well, as you have the option to view both of them together.
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