Here’s a short breakdown of the similarities and differences between Skype for Business and Teams.
Task | Skype for Business | Microsoft Teams |
Chat (IM) | ||
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Meetings | ||
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Calls | ||
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Mobile | ||
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Plus Teams offers…
An IM in Skype for Business is called a chat in Teams. In Teams, you can add flavor with emoji, GIFs, and memes and even convert a chat into an audio or video call! In addition, Teams offers persistent chat, so you can find and resume any conversation.
Find a contact and start a chat
Add someone to a chat
Have fun with emoji, GIFs, and memes
Turn a chat into an audio or video call
Just like in Skype for Business, you can turn a chat into a call in Teams:
From your existing chat, click Video call or Audio call at the top of the screen.
Resume an old conversation
In Teams, you can find and resume a previous conversation. No matter how many times you’ve spoken to that person, it’s all in one place.
Respond to a chat
When someone sends you a chat, the Teams icon in your taskbar lights up with a number in a red circle. To review and respond:
Schedule a meeting from Outlook
Join a meeting
There are many ways to join meetings in Teams:
Join meeting audio
After you click Join in Teams, you can choose how you get audio.
Teams automatically tries to connect to your computer headset or speakers. Alternatively, you can dial in using the phone number (if provided in the meeting invite).
Share your desktop in a meeting
While sharing, your meeting window remains visible in the lower right corner of your screen. You can move the window, but not close it.
Manage your meeting
In a meeting, go to the controls in the upper right corner of your screen and do one of the following:
Make a call
Call from a chat
Call one of your contacts
Direct dial someone
Add someone to a group call
For right now, this feature only works for calls that start as group calls.
Use audio controls
Forward calls
Answer a call
Whenever you get a call in Teams, you’ll receive a notification.
Check voicemail
Manage profile options
Send a message and make a call
Make a direct call
Answer a call
When a call comes in to Teams, a notification pops up, letting you know. Tap Answer (the blue one!) to start talking.
Join a meeting
Your organization has upgraded to Microsoft Teams. While you’ll still be able to edit, cancel, or join existing Skype for Business meetings, you won’t be able to use Skype for Business to chat, make calls, or create new meetings. Teams has many of the same meetings, calling, and chat capabilities that you’re used to. Look on the Chat (IM), Meetings, and Calls tabs in this article to get familiar with how to do these things in Teams. For questions around the upgrade itself, contact your help desk or refer any to resources that your organization provided.
What happens to my existing Skype for Business meetings?
Skype for Business meetings that were scheduled before the upgrade are still in your Outlook calendar and will be hosted in Skype for Business. Online meetings that you create once your organization has upgraded will be hosted in Teams. In both cases, join the meeting by clicking the link in the Outlook meeting invite and following the prompts.
How do I change options for an existing Skype for Business meeting?
To change the time, location, title, subject, or attendees list, open the meeting from your Outlook calendar and make changes as usual. To change other options like lobby activity, presenters, and more, do the following:
Note: To change an existing Skype for Business meeting into a Teams meeting, you’ll need to set the meeting up again. For info, see Set up a meeting.
Where do I find my past Skype for Business conversations, calls, or voicemails?
You’ll be able to find these if your organization had the Conversation History feature enabled in Skype for Business. The easiest way to find them is to open Outlook, then go to the Conversation History folder.
Are my Skype for Business contacts and contact groups in Teams?
Yes. In Teams, click Chat on the left. You’ll see two tabs at the top—Recent and Contacts. Your Skype for Business contacts and contact groups are on the Contacts tab. Click More options next to a contact or contact group to see what you can do.
Where can I learn more about how to use Teams?
There are a couple of ways. The Teams help center has training courses and lots of how-to info. When you’re in Teams, you can click your profile pic, then Help, to see similar how-to info and chat with our bot.