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cstegh's avatar
cstegh
Copper Contributor
Jul 25, 2018

Updated Client for SfB Server 2019?

Hi,

Are there any planned updates to the SfB client with 2019 (aside from patching/fixes)?    

When is End of Life/Extended support of 2019?

Thanks!

5 Replies

  • Renat Matveev's avatar
    Renat Matveev
    Brass Contributor
    Jul 26, 2018

    New client is available with Office 2019 ProPlus Preview. It is the same design as C2R version of Skype for Business 2016 (MSI version has another design, not changed since SfB 2015 client). You van google article "New Skype for Business 2016 look and feel coming your way…" from October 27, 2016.

    New Skype for Business 2019 client is the same. No changes in functionality.

    Microsoft changed design of Mac client from scratch and promised to change Windows client, but now they not more interested in SfB, only Teams (which is more horrible than SfB for me)

      • James Arber's avatar
        James Arber
        MVP
        Aug 01, 2018

        the Skype4B client in the Office 2019 preview looks identical to the SkypeB 2016 client. 
        I expect that as the team are focusing all their resources on Teams right now there will be little if any UI changes to the 2019 client.

         

        From the server side though. We should see the end of Silverlight finally with a look and feel similar to Office365.

    • Phillip Garding's avatar
      Phillip Garding
      Former Employee
      Jul 30, 2018

      Renat is correct that the Skype for Business 2019 app (part of Office 2019 ProPlus) is essentially the same as the Click-to-Run version of Skype for Business available now.   One correction is that SfB 2016 is not changed since SfB 2015 app; there are many differences in features between 2015 and 2016.  (The Skype for Business 2015 app is based on Lync 2013 app, part of Office 2013.)

       

      We have fully tested SfB 2019 and 2016 apps with Skype for Business Server 2019.

       

      Phil Garding

      • Renat Matveev's avatar
        Renat Matveev
        Brass Contributor
        Jul 30, 2018

        Yes, I know that SfB 2015 client is upgraded version of Lync 2013. But design of 2015 client and 2016 MSI-based client are the same. C2R-version changed design couple of years ago as I know (possible only for O365-users, not sure, because I'm using MSI-version of 2016 client).

        2019 client has the same design as on screenshots of C2R version. I compared side-by-side and found only one difference with 2016 client (except skin change): on "Phone" tab user can see his number if Enterprise voice enabled. Maybe something else, but I didn't found.

        For me and my colleagues preview of 2019 version of client and server was absolutely disappointment. We are looking for new UC-solution (not Teams, it's horrible too)

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