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Skype Meetings Is Microsoft's New Free Video Conferencing Tool For Small Businesses
Microsoft is launching a free tool to make it easier for people to make video conference calls. The company on Tuesday released Skype Meetings, which is largely similar to using the traditional Skype app, but comes with features that make it easier to set up video calls and collaborate with colleagues. TechCrunch reports:The more fully featured Skype for Business product allows you to host meetings with up to 250 people and it's deeply integrated into Outlook, Word and PowerPoint. Skype Meetings, on the other hand, only allows for PowerPoint collaboration (screen sharing, laser pointer, etc.) and screen sharing. Video calls are also limited to a maximum of 10 people during the first two months. After that, the maximum number of participants drops to three people. Participants can join Skype Meetings from virtually any device with the help of a personalized URL and the calls are powered by the same technology as Skype for Business calls. That means you will get to take advantage of Skype's head tracking feature, for example, which ensures that a face will always be in the center of the screen, no matter where it is in the actual video image.
the number before for?
Put it out free and lean, get a lot of users, then crap it up and start charging a subscription fee for it....
The grammar used in the summary works about as well as Skype.
"Video calls are also limited to a maximum of 10 people during the first two months. After that, the maximum number of participants drops to three people."
Well, what business won't be lining up around the block to use such a helpful product? ::eyeroll::
If the main feature it has is "not being a pile of shit" then I'm all over it! Seriously, Skype seems to be sucking more and more by the day. I also mostly stopped spending money on it when it could no longer do voice calls over 3G. I think that was when they introduced the HD codec, which is all fine and dandy but it would be nice if it reverted to standard quality rather than giving me occasional snippets of HD audio with long gaps in between.
SJW n. One who posts facts.
I feel silly for asking this because I assume the answer is none, but does it support any OSes other than Windows? The 'deeply integrated' comments pretty much assure it doesn't, but I need to ask. I do recall when Skype was a useful tool worth paying for regardless of OS used but those days are long gone. SIGH.
We use google hangout, for which I had to get a google+ accout (I know, it was terrible) but we are constantly breaking the 10 user limit and having to stream to everyone else on youtube live, still haven't found a better low cost solution. And to every smart Alec that thinks they know better, I have tried even writting my own web RTC io software, so I know I am pretty much bang on here.
Video calls are also limited to a maximum of 10 people during the first two months. After that, the maximum number of participants drops to three people.
They probably should've named it "Skype: Starter Edition".
#DeleteChrome
They bought a company, not for it's technology, but for it's brand and then decided to run that brand into the ground. It's the same pattern they've had for years.
Nothing new to see here, just history repeating itself.
waaaahhhhh!
Just to keep it clear.
Another option would have been to call it LyncPersonal... again... to keep things clear and differentiated...
My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
when the OP doesn't read like a commercial.
Bye!
So if we pay Slashdot, we get better (yet not perfectly usable) grammar?
Quo usque tandem abutere, Nimbus, patientia nostra?
If we pay Slashdot we'll get many more types of grammar that we'll rarely use, but no improvement to that which we are using.
Guess what, there are already plenty of tools that help businesses do this.
You know how Skype can help businesses? Bring back the damn transfer call feature.
Just because it is Microsoft's tool doesn't make it my preferred tool. Actually, just the opposite.
You know it's time for the next revolution when your rulers' names end with roman numerals.
Microsoft comes late to the party and presents a sub par product that is inferior to anything on the market.
Ok, seriously, what's the news?
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
"Bill will give us the quarterly report now, on Skype."
(Bill cylons and freezes)
"OK, moving on.."
Weird, all my friends are suggesting I upgrade to windows 10 now, just click here.
"Meetings with 250 people"
You have too many managers if you think that many people are needed for a meeting.
Same here. Team started with Hangouts, but it had 2 major issues: eventually it goes crazy and someone in the team cannot join it; the UI to start a Hangout and send the link to someone join it's really a pain.
I'm often involved in standards development operation conference calls with 20-30 people. It would be great to have a WebEx like experience with screen sharing and video conferencing however only the current person/people speaking should have their headshot appear on the screen (at full size, anyway). What is the best solution for this?
Video calls are also limited to a maximum of 10 people during the first two months. After that, the maximum number of participants drops to three people
Mohter Fukcers !
Only as well as Skype for Business, which is not really Skype. It's a pretty poor and unreliable webapp.
I used Skype with my family and friends for years. Lately we have switched to a new product called "Spark". It has really, really, really great audio and video calling as well as document sharing. My 13 old daughter has all her friends using it at school now. They have a "free" version and a paid subscription if you want to moderate your own site. The freebie for us works perfect. Worth a look for anyone who has used a product like Slack or Hipchat. I'm curious to what others think?
If it has no end-to-end encryption that makes it not visible to Microsoft, then no thanks. Skype security was ripped out when Microsoft bought it.
Microsoft has a product called Lync, that they rebranded to Skype For Business.
It has similar functionality as Skype, but is a completely separate application.
My company is official using Skype for Business, but lots of my colleagues still prefer to use Skype, because it tends to work better....