Save time and money by using Skype for Business (SfB) to conduct meetings with colleagues across the globe.
You can now use Skype for Business (SfB) to conduct meetings with colleagues at any external organisation. If they also have SfB, you can now see their presence and availability, making it simpler to arrange meetings or calls.
And of course, you can continue to conduct meetings internally via SfB as before.
Why Skype for Business?
You can save time and money by arranging and conducting meetings from your own device or meeting room. You can conduct one to one meetings, group meetings, share presentations and collaborate without travelling.
You’ll get the best meeting experience if all parties are using SfB. An additional BT MeetMe component - which you can request via the Service Desk - also allows people join meetings with just a telephone.
Using Skype for Business
You should always set up your SfB meetings via Outlook. This provides links to join via SfB and via the SfB web app, enabling colleagues without the full SfB to participate. If you have BT MeetMe enabled, your meeting will also show the number for joining by telephone.
We have published a range of user guides in the Learners’ Toolkit and our Training and Documentation Team run regular training sessions - see the Course Booking System for forthcoming dates and to book online.
What do I have to do?
You don’t need to do anything. If you want, you can adjust your presence settings within SfB; however, we recommend leaving presence as visible as this helps your colleagues to contact you. You can also block individuals from contacting you. Note that the University, in rare cases and if necessary, can block external sites from contacting us or setting up meetings.
What is the difference between Skype for Business (SfB) and Skype?
If you are setting up work-related meetings, always use SfB. SfB is integrated with University Outlook email and calendar. It supports multiple participants and even allows participants to join meetings by phone. Ordinary Skype is aimed towards personal use.
What’s changed?
The University has moved SfB to an open federation model, meaning that you can conduct SfB meetings with any external organisation.
Need advice?
Please contact the Service Desk if you have any questions about using SfB.