One of Microsoft’s most important services is the VoIP communications solution Skype. This has allowed users to stay in touch with their friends and family for a long time, it’s available in many platforms including Android. This year, Microsoft announced that they would create a version of Skype targeted towards business users, the Android app was available as a preview last August, allowing users to sync their work contacts, meeting schedules among other business-oriented tasks. Now, users can download the final build of Skype for Business from the Google Play Store. Let’s remember that this app replaces Lync 2013, so users with that app will be migrated to the new platform according to the settings on their devices.
There’s a new dashboard design, which integrates the contact search bar, upcoming meetings and recent conversations, all of these information syncs from all of the devices that use a certain account, so users can start a conversation in one device and pick them up where they left using another one. Users can also share their video and speaker’s video during a conference. To join a meeting, users can simply tap the Quick Join button next to the appointment name, or additional details for a certain meeting are available by tapping the name of that meeting. Full screen video is available and it features larger controls, which easily allow the ability to mute, add or remove participants to a conversation on the go. Contacts can be easily managed as the contact search bar includes support for the Global Address List, showing contacts by name, email or phone number, plus, contacts can be organized into groups.
Skype for Business supports the same modern authentication as some of their other Office clients, this is based on access tokens, so the information is not stored in the devices. This authentication also lets IT administrators to configure multi-factor authentication for this app on Android devices, meaning that users will have to verify their identity with a phone call, text or notification through an app. The app can be downloaded by anyone, but you will need an organization sign-in address to use it.