On This Page
- Overview
- Why is Skype for Business retiring?
- What will happen to existing Skype for Business meetings and communications sent to Skype for Business?
- Microsoft Teams is replacing Skype for Business
- How to access Microsoft Teams
- Help
Overview
Microsoft’s Skype for Business, part of the UW Office 365 platform, will be retired at the University of Washington beginning on June 15, 2021, due to Microsoft’s decision to deem it “end of life”.
The retirement process will take several days to run. When it is finished, Skype for Business will be inaccessible at the UW.
Why is Skype for Business retiring?
Since its introduction, Skype for Business has been a valuable tool for millions of people around the world. By combining instant messaging, calling, and video into one application, Skype for Business established new possibilities for business communications. Microsoft Teams is the next chapter in that vision.
The capabilities of Microsoft Teams go beyond those of Skype for Business Online. By combining chat, video, calling, document collaboration, and application integration into a single experience, Teams enables entirely news way of working. And ongoing platform innovation and development means Teams users benefit from richer performance, functionality, flexibility, and security.
Teams isn’t just an upgrade for Skype for Business Online, it’s a powerful tool that enables companies, schools, and organizations to become more agile and improve the efficiency of key workflows.
What will happen to existing Skype for Business meetings and communications sent to Skype for Business?
Existing Skype for Business meetings will be automatically converted to Microsoft Teams meetings.
Communications to Skype for Business from users using Skype for Business, Microsoft Teams, and consumer Skype will be redirected to Microsoft Teams.
Microsoft Teams is replacing Skype for Business
Click here to read more about Microsoft Teams at the UW
How to access Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams can be accessed via:
Help
Please contact the UW-IT Technology Service Center at help@uw.edu or 206-221-5000 with any questions.