Service Reference - Skype for Business

• 1 Instant Messaging Presence and Contacts

  • 1.1 Presence
  • 1.2 Instant Messaging
  • 1.3 Contact Card Configuration
  • 1.4 My Picture Configuration
  • 1.5 Contacts List Configuration
  • 1.6 Address Book and Distribution List
  • 1.7 Persistent Chat
  • 1.8 Photos of Sender/Receiver
  • 1.9 Privacy Mode

• 2 Skype-to-Skype Audio, Video, and Media

  • 2.1 Skype-to-Skype Audio and Video Calls
  • 2.2 Skype-to-Skype High-Definition Video
  • 2.3 File Transfer
  • 2.4 Skype-to-Skype Desktop and Application Sharing

• 3 Skype for Business Online Meetings

  • 3.1 Ad-Hoc Skype for Business Meetings
  • 3.2 Skype for Business Multiparty Audio and Video
  • 3.3 Presenter Controls
  • 3.4 Participant Views
  • 3.5 Multiparty Desktop and Application Sharing
  • 3.6 PowerPoint
  • 3.7 Web Conferencing Tools
  • 3.8 Polling
  • 3.9 Recording and Playback
  • 3.10 Meeting Lobby
  • 3.11 Authentication and Skype for Business Web App Users
  • 3.12 Scheduled Meetings from Outlook
  • 3.13 Scheduled Meetings from Outlook Web Access
  • 3.14 Scheduled Meetings with Skype for Business Web Scheduler

• 4. Technical

  • 4.1 Meeting limits across Office 365 options
  • 4.2 Meeting retention limits
  • 4.3 Meeting Expiration
  • 4.4 Ports and outgoing connections

• 5. About the service

  • 5.1 Support Description
  • 5.2 Acceptable Use

Instant Messaging Presence and Contacts

Presence

Presence is the ability to detect another user’s availability. Using Skype for Business, users can display their presence status—for example, Available, Away, Do Not Disturb, or Offline—to let others know their availability. Skype for Business presence information is presented throughout the Office 365 suite, such as in OneDrive for Business, which shows the status of the person who last edited a document. Users can instantly find and communicate with people from within Microsoft Outlook. This connection occurs wherever the user sees a coloured presence indicator that represents a person’s presence status. The user can then click the presence icon and initiate a communication by using Skype for Business and the interactive Office contact card. This feature is called “click-to-communicate.”

When Outlook calendar integration is enabled, a user can check another user’s schedule and get up-to-date availability information directly from that person’s calendar. This makes it easy to determine when someone will be available.

Instant Messaging

Instant messaging (IM) is the ability to transfer text messages in real time over an Internet Protocol (IP) network such as the Internet or an organization's corporate network. Instant messaging is available for both Skype-to-Skype and multiparty communication. IM text is encrypted for enhanced security.

Contact Card Configuration

Customers can configure how their own Skype for Business contact card appears to other people.

My Picture Configuration

If picture display is enabled, users can also change their picture from the default picture that is stored in the directory service. With Skype for Business for Office 365 client users’ replacement pictures can be of any fidelity, including high-definition (HD), and of any size. Exchange will adjust the file size and image dimensions to make it suitable for the contact picture.

Contacts List Configuration

You can create a persistent list of contacts for all Skype for Business users, ensuring that the contact information a user requires is immediately available. You can add other users to your Contacts list, organize, and group these contacts in different ways (by department, for example). You can also search those user's company address books to find other users—which means it is not necessary to add someone to the Contacts list to detect presence or send an instant message.

Address Book and Distribution List

Using Skype for Business, service users can search the address book for other users in their organization. They can also add email addresses and distribution lists to their Contacts lists. Instant messages can be sent to individual members of a distribution list or the entire distribution list. Distribution lists can be expanded to see the individual members.

Persistent Chat

Not available.

Photos of Sender/Receiver

Within the Skype for Business IM window, photos of the sender/receiver appear inline with the conversation. This adds visual context to IM conversations, particularly in meeting scenarios where multiple people may be chatting at the same time.

Privacy Mode

With enhanced presence privacy mode, users can restrict their presence information so that it is visible only to the contacts listed in their Skype for Business Contacts list. When enabled, the option to restrict presence information to contacts becomes available in the Skype for Business status options. When disabled, users can choose either to always let everyone see their presence information, or to adhere to any future changes the administrator makes to the privacy mode.

Skype-to-Skype Audio, Video, and Media

Skype-to-Skype Audio and Video Calls

Skype for Business Online users can make one-to-one computer-based audio and video calls to other Skype for Business users using a PC and a web camera. A Skype for Business Online user can initiate Skype-to-Skype audio and video calls with another user in the same Skype for Business Online organization (within or outside the corporate firewall), or with another Skype for Business user in a Skype for Business federated domain as long as the two Skype for Business domains are correctly configured, supported, and permitted for federation.

Skype-to-Skype High-Definition Video

High-definition video (1920 x 1080) is supported for peer-to-peer calls between users running Skype for Business on high-end computers.

The resolution viewed by each participant in a single conversation may differ, depending on the video capabilities of each user’s respective hardware.

File Transfer

Skype for Business provides PC-to-PC file transfer that lets users transfer files as part of a Skype for Business session.

Skype-to-Skype Desktop and Application Sharing

Skype for Business provides PC-to-PC data sharing capabilities including desktop sharing and application sharing.

Skype for Business Online Meetings

Ad-Hoc Skype for Business Meetings

Users can start or join an ad-hoc Skype for Business Meeting with just a few clicks in the Skype for Business client or in Office. Skype for Business lets users escalate simple instant messaging conversations or email conversations to PC-based, multiparty audio and video meetings with shared desktops, applications, and documents.

Skype for Business Multiparty Audio and Video

Skype for Business provides for Skype for Business-based, multiparty (three or more users) audio conferencing capabilities. Skype for Business multiparty audio provides users with an adaptive audio codec for optimal performance under varying bandwidth conditions, visual call and roster controls, network quality indicator, and powerful user management features (for example, drag and drop a participant name to add them to a meeting).

In addition to audio, Skype for Business enables users to connect through high quality video sessions. Both person-to-person and multiparty (three or more users) sessions are supported. Active speaker video is available only for multiparty sessions. With Skype for Business, users can easily schedule an online meeting with video or seamlessly escalate an IM session to a video call.

The video experience is enhanced by the following features:

• HD video   Users can experience resolutions up to HD 1080P in two-party calls and multiparty conferences.
• Gallery View   In video conferences that have more than two people, users can see videos of participants in the conference. If the conference has more than five participants, video of only the most active participants appears in the top row, and a picture appears for the other participants.
• H.264 video   The H.264 video codec is now the default for encoding video on Skype for Business desktop clients. H.264 video supports a greater range of resolutions and frame rates, and improves video scalability.

Presenter Controls

In Skype for Business meetings, presenters have access to the following meeting controls:

• Mute or unmute all attendees, or mute individual attendees.
• Block attendees from starting video.
• Hide names on the pictures.
• Change permissions so that all participants are attendees instead of presenters.
• Send email invitations to additional people.
• Backstage content preview if the user is a presenter.

Participant Views

In a Skype for Business meeting, participants can select from the following options depending on how they want to view the meeting content, presenter, or participants:

• Gallery View shows all the participants’ pictures, or videos, plus meeting content.
• Speaker View shows the presenter’s picture or video at the lower-right corner of the meeting window, plus meeting content.
• Presentation View shows only the meeting content.
• Compact View shows the tiles of the participants’ pictures in a compact window.

Multiparty Desktop and Application Sharing

Skype for Business provides powerful PC-to-PC and multiparty data sharing capabilities. Desktop sharing enables presenters to broadcast any visuals, applications, webpages, documents, software, or part of their desktops to remote participants in real time, right from Skype for Business. Audience members can follow along with mouse movements and keyboard input. Presenters can choose to share the entire screen or only a portion.

Application sharing enables presenters to share control of software on their desktops without losing sight of participant feedback or text questions. Presenters can also delegate control of the application to meeting participants.

PowerPoint

Skype for Business provides multiparty PowerPoint presentation, with higher-resolution displays and support for PowerPoint capabilities, such as animations, slide transitions, and embedded video. Mobile devices can also access the presentations because the feature uses standard HTML 5 and JavaScript to broadcast PowerPoint presentations. Users with the appropriate privileges can scroll through a PowerPoint presentation independent of the presentation.

Web Conferencing Tools

Skype for Business provides multiparty web conferencing capabilities including virtual whiteboard and annotations. A whiteboard is a blank canvas that can be used for collaboration, with text, ink, drawings, and images. Annotations made on whiteboards can be seen by all meeting participants. The whiteboard feature enhances collaboration by enabling meeting participants to discuss ideas, brainstorm, take notes, and so on.

Polling

The polling feature enhances collaboration by enabling presenters to quickly determine participants’ preferences. During online meetings and conversations, presenters can use polling to gather anonymous responses from participants. All presenters can see the results and can either hide the results or show them to all attendees.

Recording and Playback

The recording feature allows organizers and presenters to record all aspects of a Skype for Business session, including who entered the meeting, audio and video, and content from IM conversations, program sharing sessions, PowerPoint presentations, handouts, whiteboards, and so on. Organizers and presenters can choose 480p, 720p HD, or 1080p Full HD as their preferred resolution for client-side recordings. Recordings are saved to the organizer’s or presenter’s computer. To make a recording available to others, the organizer or presenter can move or copy the recording to a shared location.

Meeting Lobby

With the Lobby feature, users decide who gets into the meeting directly, and who waits until the presenter lets them in. This feature is recommended for large meetings, or meetings that will involve confidential or sensitive information. Different Lobby options can be set for users who are connecting through a Skype for Business client and users who are dialling in.

Authentication and Skype for Business Web App Users

Skype for Business now supports both authenticated and unauthenticated Skype for Business attendees. If a user receives a Skype for Business Meeting invitation but does not have an account with your organization, he or she can still join the meeting by using Skype for Business and signing in with the Guest account.

Scheduled Meetings from Outlook

The Skype for Business desktop client includes an Outlook plug-in that provides users with single-click scheduling of online meetings in Outlook. Participants can join with a single click from the Outlook reminder, or through the Outlook meeting itself. Organizers can set up meetings using predefined conference properties, or can set meeting types and admission policies for specific needs. Details (such as meeting time, location, and attendees) follow the familiar Outlook template, and conference call-specific information (such as dial-in number and meeting passcode) are automatically populated (access phone numbers require a third-party dial-in audio conferencing service).

Scheduled Meetings from Outlook Web Access

Skype for Business Online users who also have Exchange Online can use Outlook Web Access to set up Skype for Business Meetings. Details (such as meeting time, location, and attendees) follow the familiar template, and conference call-specific information (such as dial-in number and meeting passcode) are automatically populated (access phone numbers require a third-party dial-in audio conferencing service).

Scheduled Meetings with Skype for Business Web Scheduler

Skype for Business Web Scheduler provides a web-based way to schedule a Skype for Business Meeting. It provides a browser-based conference management experience that includes operations such as the following:

• Scheduling a new online Skype for Business meeting
• Viewing a list of existing meetings that the user has organized
• Viewing and modifying details of an existing meeting
• Deleting an existing meeting
• Sending invitations
• Joining an existing meeting

Technical

Conversation Limits

There is a limit of 50 conversations open at any one time.

File Transfer Limitations

If your attempts to upload attachments to a conference or to send files to a contact generate an error message, this means either that the contact that you’re sending the attachment to doesn’t have permission to receive files or that the file type is blocked.
In Skype for Business Online, certain files types are blocked by the Intelligent Instant Message Filter (IIMF) application. IIMF helps protect Skype for Business Online users against the most common forms of viruses without degrading the user experience.

By default, Skype for Business Online is configured to prevent users from sending files through IM that have the following file name extensions:

.ade, .adp, .app, .asp, .bas, .bat, .cer, .chm, .cmd, .com, .cpl, .crt, .csh, .exe, .fxp, .grp, .hlp, .hta, .inf, .ins, .isp, .its, .js, .jse, .ksh, .lnk, .mad, .maf, .mag, .mam, .maq, .mar, .mas, .mat, .mau, .mav, .maw, .mda, .mdb, .mde, .mdt, .mdw, .mdz, .msc, .msi, .msp, .mst, .ocx, .ops, .pcd, .pif, .pl, .pnp, .prf, .prg, .pst, .reg, .scf, .scr, .sct, .shb, .shs, .tmp, .url, .vb, .vbe, .vbs, .vsd, .vsmacros, .vss, .vst, .vsw, .ws, .wsc, .wsf, .wsh

• There are no file size limits for Peer-to-Peer communications
• There is a 500MB file size limit for Meetings

Transferring files to Skype contacts isn't supported.

Meeting limits across Office 365 options

• File upload limit   The maximum size of files that can be uploaded to a Skype for Business meeting, including handouts and PowerPoint presentations.
• Participants in a Skype for Business meeting   The maximum number of participants (including the presenter) who can join a single Skype for Business meeting.
• Presenters in a Skype for Business meeting   The maximum number of presenters in a single Skype for Business meeting.
• Skype for Business web app meeting participants   The maximum number of Skype for Business web app meeting participants who can join a meeting.
• Skype for Business web app anonymous participants   The maximum number of Skype for Business web app meeting participants who can anonymously join a meeting.
• Guests joining by phone   The maximum number of guests who can call in to a meeting.

Meeting retention limits

• Meeting content retention period   The amount of time after the last person leaves a meeting that any uploaded meeting content is retained in Skype for Business before it is permanently deleted.
• Meeting expiration period   The amount of time after a meeting has ended that users can access the meeting.

Customers using Skype for Business Online can upload content to a Skype for Business Meeting as attachments, such as PowerPoint presentations, OneNote files, and other files. The retention period for content that has been uploaded to a meeting is as follows:

• One-time meeting   Content is retained for 15 days starting from when the last person leaves the meeting.
• Recurring meeting   Content is retained for 15 days after the last person leaves the last session of the meeting. The retention timer resets if someone joins the same meeting session within 15 days. For example, assume a Skype for Business meeting is scheduled to occur on a weekly basis for one year, and a file is uploaded to the meeting during the first instance. If at least one person joins the meeting session every week, the file is retained in Skype for Business Online servers for the entire year plus 15 days after the last person leaves the last meeting of the series.
• Meet Now meeting   Content is retained for 8 hours after the meeting end time.

Meeting Expiration

Users can access a specific meeting after the meeting has ended, subject to the following expiration time periods:

• One-time meeting   Meeting expires 14 days after the scheduled meeting end time.
• Recurring meeting with end date   Meeting expires 14 days after the scheduled end time of the last meeting occurrence.
• Meet Now meeting   Meeting expires after 8 hours.

Ports and outgoing connections

Create a rule that allows outgoing connections (TLS and HTTPS) for all users to these locations:

• *.partner.microsoftonline.cn
• *.partner.microsoftonline-p.cn
• *.onmschina.cn
• *.sharepoint.cn
• *partner.outlook.cn
• *partner.lync.cn

Set the HTTP/SSL time-out value to eight hours.

About the service

Support Description

ISD will support supported features of Skype for Business on Desktop @ UCL.
ISD will provide documentation and best efforts support for other clients.

Acceptable Use

Skype for Business is available for use under the normal acceptable use conditions. Communication using Skype for Business should be conducted in the same manner as a email. Messages could be recorded by either the sender or receiver.

Instant Messaging, Audio and Video calls to large Distribution Lists held within the Global Address List is not permitted.