Microsoft moves to end speculation on future of Skype for Business

Skype for Business Server hasn't been discussed for some time

News about the future of Microsoft's Skype for Business application has been noticeable by its absence, but the agenda for the Microsoft Ignite conference in September offers some hope to Skype stalwarts.

Skype for Business is Microsoft's unified communications platform, and the successor to Lync Server. On-premise, cloud and hybrid versions are available. The platform has been around since mid-2015, providing enterprise users with instant messaging, VoIP, voicemail, file transfers, video and email. It is different from Microsoft Teams, which is similar but separate cloud-based collaboration software, similar to Slack. It appears that several Ignite sessions will aim to clarify the separation between the two services.

The future of Skype for Business Server (the on-premise version) has been in question for some time, but some of the sessions at Microsoft Ignite are specifically dedicated to the application: for example, 'Plan your UC refresh correctly: Skype for Business on-premises vNext' will explicitly discuss where Microsoft is investing in Skype for Business Server, while 'Plan for success with Skype for Business and Cloud PBX' will show how to move telephony to the cloud.

There will also be some name changes to the Skype for Business Online services, it appears. Cloud PBX will be renamed to 'Microsoft's Phone System', for example, while the PSTN Calling features will be known as 'Calling Plan'. Both Cloud PBX and PSTN Calling are offered as part of Microsoft's Office 365 E5 plan: the most expensive version of the service.

It was only the on-premise version of Skype for Business that was ever in doubt: the cloud version has been going strong, with recent partnership announcements from Yamaha (a dedicated speakerphone); MediaPlatform (an integration with its live streaming service and CMS); and BMW (installing the application in the new 5 Series cars).

Microsoft Ignite takes place from the 25^th - 29^th September.