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PeerSpot user
Works at TechnipFMC
Real User
Cut long distance costs while connecting with clients anywhere in the world
Pros and Cons
  • "Using this solution has helped us to cut long distance calls, as well as video services from third parties."
  • "Skype for Business is good for the PCs with higher bandwidth, but an improvement is required for low bandwidth usage."

What is our primary use case?

We use this solution for meetings and scheduling. Our meetings involve audio or video. These take place with outside clients at any place in the world.

How has it helped my organization?

Using this solution has helped us to cut long distance calls, as well as video services from third parties. We have the option to use this solution even for local calls.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable features include video meetings with clients, scheduling multi-party meetings, and keeping track of meetings with each client.

What needs improvement?

Skype for Business is good for the PCs with higher bandwidth, but an improvement is required for low bandwidth usage.

Buyer's Guide
Skype for Business
November 2024
Learn what your peers think about Skype for Business. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: November 2024.
824,067 professionals have used our research since 2012.

For how long have I used the solution?

Less than one year.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I feel that the stability of this solution is very good.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

My impression is that the scalability is very good.

How are customer service and support?

The technical support for this product is very good.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

Previously, we used Lotus Notes Chat, but it is not as powerful as Skype for Business.

How was the initial setup?

It was a little bit complex to setup, but the usage is not.

What about the implementation team?

Our implementation was done thought the vendor's team, and they were knowledgeable.

What was our ROI?

Our return of investment was over a two year period.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

It may be slightly costly, but the features are awesome.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We did not evaluate other products before choosing Skype for Business.

What other advice do I have?

I do not have any specific advice, other than improvement in the app is required.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Ali Jafari - PeerSpot reviewer
Voip Engineer at APK
Real User
User-friendly GUI, straightforward to install, and good quality video
Pros and Cons
  • "The GUI is very user-friendly."
  • "The technical support from Microsoft needs to be improved."

What is our primary use case?

We use Skype for Business to host and attend company meetings. It is primarily used for virtual meetings and video calls.

What is most valuable?

The GUI is very user-friendly.

What needs improvement?

The technical support from Microsoft needs to be improved.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using Skype for Business for between two and three years.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

This is a scalable product. We have approximately 500 users. We have managers, three administrators, engineers, and developers that use it.

How are customer service and support?

Troubleshooting problems with Microsoft is very hard. This is something that should be improved. The support should also be faster.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We also use Cisco Meeting Server, Cisco Webex, and Adobe Connect.

All of the platforms are very good and of high quality.

How was the initial setup?

Skype for business is straightforward to install.

What about the implementation team?

Only one person is required to maintain and support this product.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The licensing is billed on a yearly basis.

What other advice do I have?

Overall, this is a good product and I recommend it.

I would rate this solution a ten out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Skype for Business
November 2024
Learn what your peers think about Skype for Business. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: November 2024.
824,067 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Ato Abonalla - PeerSpot reviewer
Cybersecurity Solution Architect at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Reliable, offers seamless integrations, and has many features
Pros and Cons
  • "I like the seamless integration to local telecommunications."
  • "I don't recall coming across any big missing features."

What is our primary use case?

This is our primary application for virtual meetings. However, we have MS Teams and the company is positioned to use more of MS Teams going forward. Skype is more of a chat application nowadays. 

What is most valuable?

I like the seamless integration to local telecommunications. We can call local numbers in different countries, and pretty much call anyone who is within the same system using Skype. If I'm not mistaken, it can also add people to my list (from my personal contacts) that are using Skype. 

What needs improvement?

It does everything I really need it to do. I don't recall coming across any big missing features. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I've used Skype for Business for as long as I can remember. I started using that more than five years ago.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is stable. I haven't experienced any problems while I've been on a call, for example, or in a meeting. It's pretty reliable and the performance is good. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I've never had the chance to really scale it. I can't speak to how well it can expand. 

We have about 1,000 people using the solution right now. 

How are customer service and support?

I've never really dealt with technical support. I can't speak to how they are in terms of helpfulness or responsiveness. 

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We also use MS Teams. I also have some experience with Cisco. 

When I came to this company, they were using Skype, so I adopted it. I didn't migrate over to something else with any other purpose in mind. 

How was the initial setup?

I'm merely a user of Skype. I did not handle the initial setup. 

What about the implementation team?

My colleague handled the implementation. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I'm not sure what the licensing costs are for the product. It's not an aspect of the solution that I handle. 

What other advice do I have?

We do have a partnership with Microsoft and are integrators. 

The company will push out the newest version and purchase it. I'm pretty sure we are using the latest version.

I'd rate the solution nine out of ten. 

I would recommend the solution to other users and companies. 

I'd advise users to try to familiarize themselves with the features so that they can get the most out of Skype. 

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
reviewer2280225 - PeerSpot reviewer
Associate Manager at a marketing services firm with 51-200 employees
Real User
Top 20
Enhanced meeting efficiency with robust muting functionality and better video quality
Pros and Cons
  • "The ability to mute everyone else is pretty useful when there is a large audience."
  • "The video quality could be improved, possibly due to internet connection issues."

What is our primary use case?

We primarily use Skype for Business for meetings and internal discussions.

What is most valuable?

The ability to mute everyone else is pretty useful when there is a large audience. It is more stable, and the video quality is better compared to other communication platforms.

What needs improvement?

The video quality could be improved, possibly due to internet connection issues. However, there is no significant weakness in Skype for Business.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using Skype for Business for about a year or so.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Skype for Business is stable without experiencing crashes, unlike Teams, which crashes occasionally during meetings.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Skype for Business offers good scalability and does not crash when the number of audience members increases.

How are customer service and support?

Skype support is responsive. I would rate their support around seven to eight.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

What about the implementation team?

Our internal IT team handled the installation of Skype for Business on my system.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Skype for Business is affordable and has decent pricing. The video quality is a bit lower than Teams or Zoom, but it remains a good solution overall.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We use Microsoft products for our business processes. We also use Teams and Zoom for meetings.

What other advice do I have?

I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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PeerSpot user
Husam ALBAROUDI - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Software Engineer at Adesso Turkey
MSP
Good chat functionality and screen sharing, but not as robust as Microsoft Teams
Pros and Cons
  • "The security seems good."
  • "There might be some invitation issues with Skype for Business."

What is our primary use case?

The product is needed to communicate with people in different locations. Our company is in Germany. I'm in Istanbul. If I have a serious issue on the client side I can use Skype for Business to communicate and resolve issues. 

What is most valuable?

I'm using Microsoft Teams, and it's very similar to it. However, I don't actually have more advantages from Teams versus Skype for Business. 

Screen sharing, control in the session, and file sharing are easy. 

I like the chat application and the features it offers.

The security seems good. it may even be more secure than Teams. 

What needs improvement?

I'm not sure if it is possible to invite customers to meetings is they are outside the company. There might be some invitation issues with Skype for Business.

Skype for Business is not as popular as Teams. Teams has a file sharing area, which is useful. That wasn't in the Skype for Business. Skype for Business is just for chatting. However, there are no rich components like in Teams. Teams have a lot of features. Skype isn't as robust. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I've only used the solution for eight or nine months. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability has been perfect. It's reliable. There are no issues with bugs or glitches. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I'm not sure about the scalability. I don't know how easy it is to add users, for example. That's handled more on the company side. 

We have about 350 at the company using the product. 

How are customer service and support?

I've had an issue in the past and reached out to technical support. They were helpful and responsive. 

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We've used TeamViewer for very specific accounts. We've also used Microsoft Teams. It's better than Skype for Business as it integrates more effectively.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is not too difficult or entirely easy. It's somewhere in the middle. It's a moderate setup. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The solution does have a license cost, however, I don't have any knowledge of the exact pricing. 

What other advice do I have?

I'm a customer and a user.

I'm not sure which version of the solution we're using.

I do tend to use normal Skype for personal use. While we use Skype for Business, they are moving more towards Microsoft Teams. 

Nowadays, you should just maybe buy the Microsoft package. If you are using a Windows laptop, then you need Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Teams will come with this package. I prefer Microsoft Teams, actually. We have been using Microsoft Teams for the last three or four years.

I'd rate the solution seven out of ten. 

It's a good product. It's not that bad. That said, not a lot of people are using it. 

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Manager Global Business Development at Trigent Software Ltd
Real User
Calling features and screen sharing are good features; sound quality and clarity need improvement
Pros and Cons
  • "The calling features are most valuable, especially now as we are working remotely."
  • "There are issues with the bandwidth, particularly for external meetings,"

What is our primary use case?

Skype is mainly used for our internal meetings. We have it set up for all the different groups in the company, whether it's my IFC, the marketing team, pre-sales team, senior leadership, etc. We're using the product at least once a day and everybody in the company uses it. We're customers of Skype and I'm the manager of global business development. 

What is most valuable?

The calling features are the most valuable, especially now as we are working remotely  because of this pandemic. The screen sharing aspect is also a valuable feature. For example, if we need to explain something internally or deliver a presentation internally, being able to share the screen is a huge benefit. We also use Google Meet for that, so it's dual usage for us.

What needs improvement?

We have issues with the Skype bandwidth, particularly for external meetings, which is why we also use Google Meet. Also, the sound quality of Skype is not great - there is a constant background humming noise. Clarity is essential, especially in our planning meetings. We can't rely on Skype for that and that's why we sometimes use Google Meet instead. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been at this company for three months and that's how long I've been using the solution. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The system is somewhat stable although there's the issue of the background noise and it's not always clear who is talking. Following the flow of a meeting can become a bit tricky when a lot of people are involved.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is scalable in that we can sometimes have up to 30 people participating in a meeting. 

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We currently use both Skype and Google Meet. Google Meet is very user friendly with good voice quality. We can record our calls and then share screens when we're making a presentation. It's an easier solution than Skype even though we use both platforms. 
For our external client meetings we use Google Meet and internally we use Skype. 

What other advice do I have?

I would rate this solution a six out of 10. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
PeerSpot user
Principle consultant at Active Data Consulting Services Pty Ltd
Real User
Top 20
It helps me connect with clients via conference calls, video conferencing and desktop sharing.
Pros and Cons
  • "The Microsoft tech support are very good. They get back to you. I log a support call, and I usually have someone on the phone within a half an hour, so it is pretty good."
  • "There are some issues with stability during phone calls. Sometimes the connectivity drops, and it is frustrating."

What is our primary use case?

I use this solution primarily for my consulting business. It enables me to keep in touch with clients via conference calls, video conferencing, desktop sharing and more.

What is most valuable?

The audio and the screenshot sharing is quite strong.

What needs improvement?

I think sometimes the connectivity needs improvement. Sometimes people have connectivity issues. Once you are running, it's terrific. But, there are unexpected dropouts occasionally. The reliability is not 100%. For example, we had a call today which started great, and then suddenly there were several participants that dropped out of the call due to connectivity.

I also think that it would be great to have a drag-and-drop feature during a call. 

Additionally, the screen sharing is really good. It would be nice to draw notes for screen sharing. This would especially be nice with Touch Pros.

For how long have I used the solution?

One to three years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

There are some issues with stability during phone calls. Sometimes the connectivity drops, and it is frustrating.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We are small scale, with a small number of users. I do not know how it would handle very large numbers of users.

How is customer service and technical support?

The Microsoft tech support are very good. They get back to you. I log a support call, and I usually have someone on the phone within a half an hour, so it is pretty good. 

How was the initial setup?

Implementation and setup were pretty straightforward. It took us a half an hour. We did not need any expertise to get it running at all.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The pricing is really good. It is quite affordable because it came with our Office 365. It is on a per-user license, which is nice. I quite like that they have made it very granular with all of their licensing.  I get a feeling that smaller organizations can interact with bigger organizations in a more global way by using this service. It is leveling the playing field.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

I looked at GoToMeetings. It is a good solution, and it has a few nice features. Skype for Business has better video and audio quality.

What other advice do I have?

If you have Office 365, you should give it a "go" and try it!

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Office Ohrid at AGENCY FOR REAL ESTATE CADASTRE
Real User
Top 5
Good performance, easy to deploy, and stable
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution is scalable and is capable of working on every appliance on every operating system."
  • "The cost of Skype for Business has room for improvement."

What is our primary use case?

We use the solution for virtual meetings.

What is most valuable?

Skype for Business has good performance.

What needs improvement?

The cost of Skype for Business has room for improvement.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for one year.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is scalable and is capable of working on every appliance on every operating system.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I previously used WebEx and we are still using Zoom. Zoom offers a cheaper license than Skype for Business.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is straightforward. We only have to click on a link.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

A license is required to use the solution.

What other advice do I have?

I give the solution an eight out of ten.

We stopped using the solution because we no longer communicate with the other group that held the license for Skype for Business.

I recommend the solution. Skype for Business offers good audio quality and excellent video quality. There wasn't a lot of demand for our network resources.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud

If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

Microsoft Azure
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user