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Skype for Business Blog

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Skype for Business Server Roadmap Update

ScottSchnoll

Microsoft

Jun 18, 2024

Today, we are providing an update on our product roadmap for Microsoft Skype for Business Server. Here’s what’s ahead:

We will release a Cumulative Update (CU)—CU8—for Skype for Business Server 2019 in H2 of 2024.
We will release Skype for Business Server Subscription Edition (SE) early in the third quarter of calendar year 2025.

Skype for Business Server SE, the next release of Microsoft Skype for Business Server, will be available for download from the Microsoft 365 admin center (previously the Microsoft Volume License Service Center) in early Q3 of 2025.

The licensing model for Skype for Business Server SE is the same as SharePoint Server Subscription Edition and Exchange Server Subscription Edition, which requires subscription licenses or licenses with active Software Assurance for server and user licenses.

The hardware, operating system, and other requirements for Skype for Business Server SE are the same as Skype for Business Server 2019.

Finally, Skype for Business Server SE will be supported under the modern lifecycle support policy.

Upcoming Changes in CU8

We’re adding Persistent Chat to Skype for Business Server 2019 in CU8 and completing our final phase of the Modern Admin Control Panel.

Persistent Chat

We are adding Persistent Chat (PChat) to Skype for Business Server 2019, which plays a pivotal role in promoting collaboration. PChat lets users create discussion rooms centered around specific topics, with those conversations persisted over time. Based on valuable feedback from our user community, we are providing an option to install PChat in our next CU.

Modern Admin Control Panel

We are also adding functionality to our new admin interface, the Modern Admin Control Panel (MACP), in our next CU.

This is the final phase for our updates to MACP. For information about previous phases, see Phase 1 (2019), Phase 2 (2020), and Phase 3 (2021).

This final phase includes:

IM & Presence: Dedicated tab for instant messaging and presence management.
Security: Centralizes security-related settings, allowing admins to configure access controls, authentication methods, and encryption protocols.
Monitoring & Archiving: Real-time monitoring and archiving capabilities to help admins keep track of system performance, user activity, and compliance requirements.
Network Configuration: Fine-tune network settings, optimize performance, troubleshoot issues, and ensure seamless connectivity.
Clients: Manage client applications, configure client policies, update versions, and address compatibility concerns.
Persistent Chat (PChat): Topic-based discussion rooms that persist over time.

Please start using the MACP today and share your feedback and questions using the ‘Give Feedback’ link.

Upgrading to Skype for Business Server SE from Previous Versions

To help accelerate the transition to Skype for Business Server SE, in addition to being code equivalent to Skype for Business Server 2019 CU8 (plus any subsequent Security Updates (SUs) or Hotfixes (HFs) to CU8), Skype for Business Server SE will support an in-place upgrade from Skype for Business Server 2019.

In-Place Upgrade

The fastest and easiest way to get to Skype for Business Server SE is to perform an in-place upgrade from Skype for Business Server 2019. The upgrade experience is identical to installing a CU. Once a server is running Skype for Business Server SE, it will be updated with our update cadence of periodic CUs and as-needed SUs and HFs.

Update Paths to Skype for Business Server SE

Below is a table that summarizes the recommended update paths based on the version(s) you’re running:

Version in use	Upgrade Path
Skype for Business Server 2015	Migrate to Skype for Business 2019 now, update to CU8 when available, and upgrade in-place to Skype for Business Server SE when available.
Skype for Business Server 2019	Update to CU8 when available, and then upgrade in-place to Skype for Business Server SE when available.

Customers also have the option of migrating from Skype for Business Server 2015 to Skype for Business Server SE, but we recommend the above upgrade paths.

Call to Action

Skype for Business Server SE will be available shortly before Skype for Business Server 2015 and Skype for Business Server 2019 both reach end of support on October 14, 2025. If you intend to continue to run Skype for Business Server on-premises, we recommend moving to Skype for Business Server 2019 with the latest update now, and upgrading to Skype for Business Server SE when it is available in 2025.

-- Skype for Business Server Engineering Team

Updated Jun 26, 2024

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ScottSchnoll

Microsoft

Joined July 15, 2016

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Eric Marsi
MVP
Jun 18, 2024
What will happen for Lab deployments (MVP) in regards to licensing?

Also, there is a small typo above calling it Skype for Business Server 2013. It should be Lync Server 2013 🙂

In the MACP, it might be worth removing the migrate to Teams options as that is not working in the GUI any longer. Any chances that this could be open sourced as well? Would love to continue building on MACP even if Microsoft is not willing to.

Last thing would be a feature request of being able to see and manage CsMeetingRooms, CsAnalogDevices, Resource Accounts and CsCommonAreaPhones in the GUI. This would be SUPER helpful 🙂

ScottSchnoll
- ScottSchnoll
  Microsoft
  Nov 29, 2024
  For labs, you can use the Trial edition which will be posted to the Download Center. I don't see any references to SfB Server 2013, so not sure what typo you mean. As for your other feedback, I've shared it with the engineering team. Thank you!
  - RickEveleigh
    Copper Contributor
    Nov 29, 2024
    The SfB Server 2013 error was corrected a while back.
DennisB79
Copper Contributor
Jun 19, 2024
Hi all,

are there any news about how to deal with SBA/SBS. We have some indispensable SBS running on SfB2015 due to missing SBS options in SfB2019.

Greetz
royercs
Copper Contributor
Oct 28, 2024
Hi Scott - As we close out October, I am wondering what the latest is on release of CU8. We are in great need of the features and fixes for our on-prem solution.
- ScottSchnoll
  Microsoft
  Nov 29, 2024
  It's on its way and will be here soon!
Rick Eveleigh
Copper Contributor
Jun 26, 2024
Hi Scott
Could you clarify the migration paths please; the 'upgrade' section above is unclear.
You can't 'upgrade' from 2013* or 2015 to 2019, you can only migrate. The difference between upgrade and migrate is important as upgrade implies in place.
Will you be able to migrate from 2015 to SE (like you can from 2013 or 2015 to 2019), or is an in place upgrade from 2019 the only way to get to SE?
Thanks

*2013 is Lync, as Eric has said above, can you correct the article please?
joestar22
Copper Contributor
Jul 30, 2024
Will CU8 include any updates to fix the problems with push notifications not working on the iOS app? We are running Skype for Business Server 2019 Standard Edition and the push notifications do not work. I have seen numerous threads about this but no resolution.
- joestar22
  Copper Contributor
  Nov 29, 2024
  ScottSchnollI noticed a few replies today from you. Thank you so much for the updated information. I was wondering if you know if the push-notification issue is still a known issue without a resolution, or if this is a problem unique to my environment. If it is a known issue, will there be a fix in CU8? Thanks!
  - ScottSchnoll
    Microsoft
    Nov 29, 2024
    I'm not familiar with this issue but let me check with the engineering team and get back to you.
    
    UPDATE: joestar22, I checked with engineering, and this is not a known issue. Do you have a support case open? If so, please let me know the case number (schnoll @ microsoft.com). If not, please open one.
sudekar2024
Copper Contributor
Sep 02, 2024
Hi Scott,
is there any update about the CU8 release date? --> "We will release a Cumulative Update (CU)—CU8—for Skype for Business Server 2019 in H2 of 2024."
is there any demo environment, we can see the PChat features and will we able to use PChat with SfB Subscription Edition also?
Thanks.
Bildbau
Copper Contributor
Sep 07, 2024
Hi Scott, we still running SfB 2015 and Exchange 2016 even if we really hope, that we be able to upgrade as soon as possible. But we missing the IM feature in the 2019 Editions. We need it for our Mailboxes. Are there any plans for something simmilar? We won't use any could services and as far as we know SfB 2019 only allows cloud voicemailbox.
Thanks
- ScottSchnoll
  Microsoft
  Nov 29, 2024
  PChat is coming back to SfB Server 2019 in the upcoming CU8 release, which is imminent.
  - Bildbau
    Copper Contributor
    Nov 29, 2024
    I am sorry for mistyping, I meant UM (Unified Messaging) instead of IM. I hope the rest of my message makes more sense in that context, ie. we need the UM feature for our voicemail interface between Skype for Business Server (still 2015) and Exchange Server (still 2016). 😒
Ga_MinA
Copper Contributor
Nov 29, 2024
Hello, Scott.

I am an engineer providing technical support for Microsoft products. Some of our clients are defense contractors operating IT systems in isolated, air-gapped environments with no internet access. They often ask whether Microsoft's "subscription" model is viable in such environments. Specifically, they question whether the term "subscription" implies only the periodic payment structure (e.g., monthly or annual licensing costs) and the company's right to audit license compliance, or if it also necessitates internet connectivity for real-time usage monitoring or authentication. How does Microsoft define and implement "subscriptions" in such cases?

Thanx.
- ScottSchnoll
  Microsoft
  Nov 29, 2024
  Subscription refers only to licensing/payment. Internet connectivity is not required (and never will be).