Long before FaceTime, there was Skype, the all-in-one voice, video and file-sharing platform. Since 2003, Skype has continued to grow, so much so that Microsoft eventually bought the service. Skype now exists in two versions. At first glance, Skype and Skype for Business are much the same, but you’ll see otherwise when you take a deeper look. When you remove the similar branding, these two products serve vastly different purposes.
After Microsoft purchased Skype, the company integrated this service with MSN messenger. Skype retains many of the features of Messenger, and you can communicate both with previous MSN users and Skype users via Skype.
Skype for personal use is available for free from the Skype website. All of the basics features, including instant messaging, video and choice chat, screen sharing, SMS messaging and the ability to send files, are also available for free. Skype is available both for desktop and mobile users.
Through Skype, users can make calls to a user’s traditional phone number, including international numbers. This feature isn’t free. You must purchase Skype credit to make these calls, however. The cost of these calls depends on the locations of the caller and receiver. For example, it costs 2.3 cents per minute to call someone in the United States, while texting a U.S. number costs 11.2 cents per message.
You can choose to pay as you go, or purchase a subscription that enables you to call either the United States, U.S. and Canada or worldwide for a flat fee per month. Skype also offers pay-as-you-go options for users who don’t frequently need these services.
Skype is an easy way to create online “meetings” with staff members or to connect with business partners, but it might not be the best solution for larger companies, because there is a 25-person limit in conference calls. Some people may never reach this limit, however.
Finally, Skype users should know that all messages, calls and file transfers are encrypted using AES encryption. This encryption is not applied to calls made to landline users, though.
While Skype for Business is actually a rebranded version of Microsoft Lync, the interface will be familiar to anyone who has already used Skype. The main reason why some business wouldn’t want to upgrade is because this is not a free service. You must purchase a subscription for at least three months through Microsoft’s Office website. Prices start at $2 per user for a standalone Skype for Business subscription.
However, the premium price comes with premium features, including:
- The ability to add 250 users to an HD conference call – and to record those calls!
- Integration with other Microsoft Office products and services
- Advanced data loss protection for any information transmitted via Skype for Business
- Enterprise-level security
For additional productivity, you can have Skype for Business bundled with additional features by choosing one of the Office 365 plans (at $5/month, the cheapest one includes 1 TB of OneDrive storage and MS Exchange with a 50 GB mailbox per user). There are a few other features of Skype for Business that you might find useful: for example, you can send messages via Skype directly from Office 365, and your contacts will all have contact cards, enabling you to see their online status and current mood if they have one set.
Skype for Business Room Systems, formerly Lync Room Systems, are the perfect way for you to hold a meeting and keep everyone connected. Users from a regular phone can dial a number to enter your meeting, and you can broadcast your meetings to 10,000 viewers. Skype Room Systems work seamlessly with Microsoft Surface Hub, which allows touch and ink input.
Finally, a single person can be specified as an administrator over all the data and accounts for your organization, which ensures greater security than with the free version of Skype.
What’s Right for You?
Knowing the difference between Skype and Skype for Business enables you to make the best choice for your needs. A small business, for example, might simply choose to use the free version of Skype or maybe you might opt to upgrade because of the additional security is something you want for your business.
A larger company that tries to rely on Skype might soon outgrow the services, so Skype for Business simply makes more sense, but you can always upgrade to Skype for Business later on.
Whether you choose Skype or Skype for Business, the familiar interface makes it easy to communicate with others. Many people will find the additional features and the cost of Skype for Business unnecessary. However, some organizations will find themselves relying heavily on Office integration and the larger meeting capabilities. Determine your needs, and your choice becomes clear.
Guest article written by: John Porter is a Southampton-based freelance writer and a tech head, so he enjoys writing about new technology and is particularly interested in all types of gadgets and productivity apps. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/john.retrop – Twitter: @johnpourter