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UTD Upgrading from Skype for Business to Microsoft Teams

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Skype for Business - old; Teams - new.

The Office of Information Technology is excited to provide you with an upgrade from the Skype for Business communication client that you currently use to Microsoft Teams. Teams offers a new way to work by bringing together new and innovative tools that will be available to use if you desire. Beginning at 7 a.m. on Monday, March 16, Skype for Business users will be upgraded to Microsoft Teams.

What Should I Expect?

We know how much you rely on technology to get your job done and we are continually exploring ways to simplify the way you work, while ensuring you have the right tools available at your fingertips. Teams is an all-in-one collaboration and communication solution, integrating chat (IM), online meetings, calling, file management and a project workspace into one interface. Please note: consumer Skype application (not Skype for Business) is not affected by this change.

What to expect once you are upgraded

  • You will no longer be able to sign into Skype for Business. Attempting to sign in to Skype For Business will automatically redirect you to Teams.
  • You will receive all incoming IMs in Microsoft Teams, including IMs from organizations outside of UT Dallas.

What will happen to all my Skype for Business data (eg. contacts, conversation history, etc.) once my account is upgraded to Teams?

Your Skype for Business information will be available as follows:

  • Your past conversations, calls, and voicemails can be viewed from your Conversation History folder in Outlook
  • Your Skype for Business contacts will be available in Teams under the Calls tab
  • Your Skype for Business meetings can be accessed from your Outlook calendar or from the Meetings tab in Teams
  • You can still access Skype for Business meetings you have been invited to from other organizations

What is Microsoft Teams?

The upgrade to Teams will provide you one solution for your communication and collaboration needs, and leverages much of what you know about Skype for Business. Even better, it expands what’s possible, integrating chat (IM), online meetings, file management and project workspace.

Teams is a cloud-based chat app that brings together chat, meeting, notes, Office, Planner, PowerBI, and a host of extensions and applications to help get work done. Teams offers a threaded view of group and private conversations. You can access these conversations through a user-friendly interface that lets you chat with coworkers, share files and notes, and even contribute to project boards.

Why are we moving to Teams?

Here are just a few reasons…

  • Simplified communication: Resume a conversation at any time or even send a file when someone is offline.
  • Easier collaboration: Reduce the need to juggle between multiple applications with a single “hub” for your project notes, Office files, conversations and meetings.
  • Communicate naturally. Customizable memes and giphys make communicating fun, plus @mention capability calls attention to a recipient.

Common Use Cases

Office 365 improves productivity in your specific industry or role, using scenarios and best practices. To learn more about how you can integrate Teams into your daily work, attend a training session with the Help Desk team, visit our Office 365 page or read use cases from the Productivity Library page.

FAQs

Refer to our Frequently Asked Questions to help you navigate any troubleshooting issues you may experience. You can also refer to our Trainings and Resource page to find helpful information and upcoming hands-on sessions.

Resources