- The comparison
- Software
- Microsoft Teams in front of Skype: Which video conferencing and cooperation service is better?
For many people, Skype was the origin of remote video communication. The platform was originally launched in XNUMX and has quickly become an essential tool for families and friends looking to communicate over long distances. Microsoft finally acquired Skype in XNUMX and now it must compete with a host of other video conferencing tools, including one developed by its owner, Microsoft Teams. While Skype continued to exist after the Microsoft acquisition, it has gradually become clearer that the Redmond-based company is now ready to put more energy into its Microsoft Teams brand. Indeed, earlier this year, Microsoft officially announced that Skype for Business would no longer be supported, urging companies to migrate to Teams. Now that Skype for Business is gone, large organizations aren't likely to choose the original Skype over Microsoft Teams, but small businesses may prefer the simplicity that consumer-focused Skype offers over the difficulty of Teams. The craving (and habit) of using Skype can also be too difficult for some users to quit. In this guide, we've gathered all the information you need to decide whether Skype or Microsoft Teams is right for your business, comparing plans and costs, features, security, and more.
Packages and prices
Skype and Microsoft Teams are free. The main difference between the two platforms is that Teams has a more complex cost structure, giving users more flexibility based on the size of the organization they represent. Teams Microsoft Teams paid packages are included in multiple 2 Microsoft subscriptions. At the cheapest tier, Microsoft 00 Business Basic costs €1 / €XNUMX / AU €XNUMX per user per month, while Microsoft XNUMX Business Standard costs €XNUMX / €XNUMX / AU €XNUMX per user per month. The most expensive option, Microsoft XNUMX Premium, adds advanced security and privacy features, such as a more extensive range of device management options, and will cost your business $XNUMX / $XNUMX / AU €XNUMX per user per month. However, these more expensive plans have their advantages. The free version of Teams, for example, comes with limitations on how long and how many attendees you can have for each meeting. Microsoft Business Basic also offers the ability to schedule and record meetings and has a file storage capacity of XNUMXTB per user. Skype There isn't much to say about the cost structure that comes with Skype. The use of the platform is free, but people will have to acquire credit if they want to make calls to landlines or mobile phones. Skype Credit can be purchased as part of monthly plans that change in cost based on the country the person is calling from. People can also purchase a Skype number as a second number associated with their Skype account. There is also a Skype To Go service, which offers a pay-as-you-go option for individuals or businesses who want to make international calling more accessible.
Features
One of the most useful features that comes with Skype is that it allows users to record and save calls for up to thirty days after a meeting is over. Other features that users are likely to appreciate include the ability to add live captions to video calls. There is also a live translation option for up to ten languages spoken simultaneously. There's also an in-call chat window, and users can create polls, upload files from OneDrive or their computer, and even share music from Spotify. Skype for Business is no more, it remains to be seen if Microsoft will continue to add functionality to the user version of Skype or if it will be discontinued as well. If this happens, Skype users will likely be prompted to use Teams as well. If you're considering making the switch, you'll find a number of useful features offered through Teams. These include chat functionality, the ability to set up channels and teams, audio conferencing, and full telephony features. Over the past year, Microsoft has also been continually adding new features to Teams, so expect the updates to keep coming.
Security
On the surface, there seems to be little difference in the level of security offered to Skype and Microsoft Teams users. After all, both platforms are developed by Microsoft. Just like Teams, all communication involving Skype, including all voice, video, file and instant message transfers, is encrypted. However, Teams has stronger security features, including the ability to set information retention policies. This means that organizations can turn off conversations or even remove them after a while, which helps them meet certain compliance standards. In addition to this, individual policies can be set for private chats or channel messages.
Support
Teams offers a wide range of support options for its users, including step-by-step setup guides, online webinars, and training videos. Hopefully more advanced technical issues can be fixed via live chat support and a user call-back line, while an active community discussion forum is always free to get More help. Skype has a similarly large list of support options, including a whole FAQ section on their site. However, the fact that Skype for Business has been discontinued means that there is no longer a dedicated helpline for business customers. This means that they may find the support process takes longer than Teams users.
Verdict
Although Skype for Business no longer exists, the traditional and old-fashioned Skype still has its uses. For individuals or businesses with twenty employees or less, it still provides the same intuitive video calling experience that's been around for almost two decades. However, for many businesses, the limited features that come with Skype simply don't meet their needs. This means that Teams, with its longer list of features and ancillary cooperation options, is likely going to be more appealing to large organizations.