Originally announced in MC219641 (July ’20), as Microsoft Teams has become the core communications client for Microsoft 365, this is a reminder the Skype for Business Online service will retire July 31, 2021. If your organization has already transitioned from Skype for Business Online to Microsoft Teams, please disregard this message.
Affected Workloads
- Skype for Business
How this will affect your organization
- If your organization has been scheduled for a Microsoft-assisted upgrade from Skype for Business Online to Teams, you will receive corresponding notifications within Message Center containing additional information.
- After the Skype for Business Online service retires, your organization may continue to use Microsoft Teams as part of an existing licensing agreement.
- Support for the integration of third-party party Audio Conferencing Providers (ACP) into Skype for Business Online will end as Skype for Business Online retires.
- Neither the Skype consumer service nor Skype for Business Server products are affected by the retirement of Skype for Business Online.
What you need to do to prepare
We encourage customers using Skype for Business Online to plan and begin the upgrade to Teams today. To help, Microsoft offers comprehensive transition resources including a proven upgrade framework, guidance for technical and organizational readiness, on-demand upgrade planning workshops, and FastTrack onboarding assistance for eligible subscriptions.
Message ID: MC270667
Published: 16 July 2021
Updated: 16 July 2021
Effective: July 31, 2021
Action required by date: 31 July 2021
Alex Lim
Alex Lim is a certified IT Technical Support Architect with over 15 years of experience in designing, implementing, and troubleshooting complex IT systems and networks. He has worked for leading IT companies, such as Microsoft, IBM, and Cisco, providing technical support and solutions to clients across various industries and sectors. Alex has a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the National University of Singapore and a master’s degree in information security from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is also the author of several best-selling books on IT technical support, such as The IT Technical Support Handbook and Troubleshooting IT Systems and Networks. Alex lives in Bandar, Johore, Malaysia with his wife and two chilrdren. You can reach him at [email protected] or follow him on Website | Twitter | Facebook
