Skype for Business on Mac is now Available!
Great News! On October 27, 2016, Microsoft made the all new Skype for Business on Mac client generally available for download. I've posted a blog with more information in our Product Updates - have a look! https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Full-Circle-Product-Updates/Skype-for-Business-on-Mac-is-now-Generally-Available/ba-p/25147
Skype Room Systems v2 - first impressions
So we just installed a Skype Room Systems v2 (Logitech Group) in our largest conference room. Here are our first impressions when it comes to the software. We have Exchange 2016 on-premise and SfB Online in O365. There's one issue with dialing a number when you don't have PSTN Calling in your region. Maybe this is by design or maybe I just got it wrong (here's my discussion on that) You should disable the Surface Pro 4 built-in front and rear camera because otherwise when you choose to start the video, you have three cameras to choose from. It's not mentioned in the Deployment Guide but we figured it out they are in the Device Manager -> System Devices. Speaking of this, you shouldn't need to choose a camera at all if there's only one (1) camera - just default to that camera. We have a huge 100"+ projector screen in this conference room and when a single attendent call in with video, that person gets a full screen with their huge face. I don't know how we would technically solve this (I guess 2 * 55" is a better setup) but it feels like Big Brother ;). If a presenter in the room connects their laptop via HDMI and start something with a video (like Youtube) the sound outputs into the conference room and the sound is only catched up by the rooms speaker's which gives quite bad results. It should be able to get the sound from the HDMI input but then again, the deployment guide clearly states that "Audio playback over HDMI can only be heard locally" so maybe it's some technical reason why this is not possible. The DIY setup might be a little bit overly complicated selecting the correct inputs/outputs etc. Since the SRS application only works on "certified" versions, it should be possible for Microsoft to automate this and verify the settings remain the same after updates etc. But they have mentioned automated deployment scripts are coming. The dock (Surface Pro 4) screen is quite sensitive to fat fingerprints so after a while you need to clean it but maybe someone has some magical solution for that :) I hope the OMS management/monitoring solution will be available soon so we effectively can monitor the SRS so we can be proactive because users in general don't create a support ticket for conference room systems, they just give up :) Then there are some minor Logitech hardware first impressions but that's not related to Microsoft.Skype for Business Video Broadcast - September 23, 2016 @ PT- Behind the scenes and Ignite Update
Join our Broadcast - 1 st Anniversary Broadcast Join the Skype for Business team for our 29 th broadcast which marks a full year since the series began. We will be doing a brief preview of what to expect from the upcoming Ignite 2016 technology conference, and will be sharing some Skype for Business Meeting Broadcast best practices that we’ve gleaned over the course of our first year. Join the Skype Meeting Broadcast, Friday, September 23, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. PST. Speakers: Sean Wilson and Jamie StarkDid you miss Ignite? Join Jamie Stark and Sean Wilson recap Ignite live at 5pm.
Live From Microsoft Ignite Jamie Stark and Sean Wilson will walk through Ignite talking about the latest updates we have announced in Skype for Business and good news from the Show Floor as well as a quick recaps of what the show has been like. Join us at 5PM Eastern Time Todyay Thursday September 29th at http://aka.ms/sfbcast.Announcement: Move all your communications to Skype for Business Online
Today, at the Microsoft Ignite Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, Microsoft announced several new Skype for Business innovations that enhance the Office 365 collaboration experience across devices and empower IT professionals to deliver modern communications to their end users. The best user experience for workplace communication The next generation of Skype Room Systems The power of global availability and capability Deployment excellence with the Skype Operations Framework Move your communications to Skype for Business Online today Read more on Office Blogs.New Meeting Invite Updates for the Windows client on Formatting Dial-In Strings & Link to Join
We've heard from customers on some needed changes to Meeting Invites for the Skype for Business desktop client, and incorporated these requests in our latest update! Read more about formatting dial-in strings and link-to-join using the web app in our latest blog post.Join our Broadcast - POLYCOM AND SKYPE FOR BUSINESS TEAM: VIDEO INTEROP IN THE CLOUD
Join Polycom and the Skype for Business team to hear and see a demo of the new Polycom cloud-based video interoperability service for Office 365 users. Built directly into the Skype for Business workflow, users can easily use this service to create an online meeting that Office 365 and other video endpoint users can join. Join the Skype Meeting Broadcast, Friday, September 9, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. PST. Speakers: Angela Donohue, Albert Kooiman, Adam JacobsNew Skype for Business Room Systems “Project Rigel”
One of the great things that came from #MSIgnite was the announcement of the next Lync Room Systems (aka Project Rigel). As a Skype4B admin who has done integration with current generation Lync Room Systems and Polycom infrastructures, I have to say that Microsoft has made huge steps forward. Check out more details https://nextgennerdblog.wordpress.com/2016/10/04/new-skype-for-business-room-systems-project-rigel/.Cloud PSTN expanding to France and Spain
As there were some good interest on where Cloud PBX is expanding next, I'm posting it here fresh from Ignite (now that it is not a secret anymore :)). Cloud PSTN will be expanding its coverage (in the near future) to France and Spain... On top of that, we offer inbound numbers for Cloud Conferencing in 90 Countries and 400+ cities (and counting) so you can have local dialing access and dodge the international calling rates. Of course, we also offer toll free numbers :) Tech preview for France and Spain should start soon, so keep tuned :)
