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Skype Meetings Is Microsoft's New Free Video Conferencing Tool For Small Businesses

Posted by msmash on from the if-an-app-was-preventing-you-from-talking dept.

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.

10 of 56 comments (clear)

  1. I can see where this will go... by surfdaddy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Put it out free and lean, get a lot of users, then crap it up and start charging a subscription fee for it....

    1. Re:I can see where this will go... by serviscope_minor · · Score: 2

      I can see where this will go...

      uh...

      Put it out free and lean, get a lot of users

      They already did that. It was called skype...

      then crap it up

      and then microsoft purchased it.

      --
      SJW n. One who posts facts.
    2. Re:I can see where this will go... by Dunbal · · Score: 2

      It was called Lync. Which Microsoft canned, so that they can push this shit onto people.

      --
      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
  2. Re:What's a "free" ? by tripleevenfall · · Score: 4, Funny

    The grammar used in the summary works about as well as Skype.

  3. Seems useful by tripleevenfall · · Score: 4, Funny

    "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::

    1. Re:Seems useful by Dr_Barnowl · · Score: 2

      My last lot used Zoom.us

      Upside : free, works on all three big desktop OSs and both big phone OSs (I think Windows Phone too..), 50 participants in the free plan, up to 40 minute meetings in the free plan (TBH - this is a feature! Who wants to webconf for more than 40 minutes....)

      Downside : not all the features work on Linux.

      You'd have to be nuts not to be thinking about using a WebRTC client though.

  4. OS Support? by Groo+Wanderer · · Score: 2

    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.

    1. Re:OS Support? by The-Ixian · · Score: 4, Informative

      The "deeply integrated" comment is a little misleading.

      Skype (all versions) is a stand alone product that does not require any other office product to function.

      No, you do not *need* Outlook to run Skype (even the business version) or vice versa. Yes, they all query each other's APIs for status and stuff. But even the Outlook "integration" is nothing more than a standard plug-in (not integrated into the Outlook app itself).

      As for cross platform. If you have an O365 subscription, almost all of their desktop apps (and Skype for sure) have web-based versions.

      --
      My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
  5. In other words by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 4, Funny

    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
  6. This just in by Opportunist · · Score: 2

    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?

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    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.