Microsoft realigns Lync under Skype umbrella

Microsoft is bringing its communications platforms Lync and Skype together with Skype for Business. In the first half of 2015, the next version of Lync will become Skype for Business with a new client experience, new server release and updates to the service in Office 365. 

Gurdeep Pall, Corporate VP for Skype at Microsoft, said in a blog post that the company is "bringing together the familiar experience and user love of Skype with the enterprise security, compliance and control from Lync to create the most loved and trusted communications platform for doing things together". 

Skype is a the messaging, calling and sharing platform with over 300 million users, while Lync is used for voice, video and conferencing.

"We believe that Skype for Business will again transform the way people communicate by giving organisations reach to hundreds of millions of Skype users outside the walls of their business," Pall said.

"Lync already offers instant messaging and audio calling with Skype users. Skype for Business adds video calling and the Skype user directory making it possible to call any Skype user on any device."

Current Lync Server customers can update from Lync Server 2013 to the new Skype for Business Server in their data centres, while the update will be transparent to Office 365 customers.

An introductory video to Skype for Business can be viewed here.

*Images from the Office Blog.