Microsoft Skype for Business to Microsoft Teams transition

Posted May 4, 2022

For many years, Skype for Business (SfB), integrated with the Texas Tech University email system, has served as our institution's primary phone and communications tool. Microsoft is in the process of transitioning from SfB to Teams. Texas Tech is currently in this transition phase where both SfB and Teams are being used.

Both tools offer unique features and functionality. Here are some recommendations on which tools are best for various situations:

• Skype for Business
  • Telephone functions
    • Inbound, outbound, direct dial employee phone calls
    • Departmental phone calls, including receptionist functions
    • Location information for 911 emergency responders
  • Presence – Automated availability information based on SfB activity and calendar information, or manual selection
  • Integration with Microsoft 365 apps, university-provided cloud storage (SharePoint, OneDrive), and other third-party apps, including chat function
  • Online meetings up to 50 attendees (with telephone dial-in and dial-out options)
• Microsoft Teams
  • Best tool for ongoing team and project collaborations
  • Presence – Automated availability information based on Teams activity and calendar information, or manual selection
  • Integration with Microsoft 365 apps, university-provided cloud storage (SharePoint, OneDrive), and other third-party apps, including chat function
  • Online meetings up to 300 attendees (without dial-in options)
  • Webinars up to 10,000 attendees at no charge
  • Synchronous course delivery for classroom instruction, as well as asynchronous communication and collaboration beyond the classroom
  • Class teams that provide special capabilities tailored for teaching and learning
  • Full session recording and transcription

Over the next couple of years, Texas Tech will continue migrating functionality from SfB to Teams to align with Microsoft's product support schedule for SfB that will end in 2025. Our transition will include the migration of telephone and location functions. Some equipment replacement may be necessary over the next couple of years to take full advantage of Teams functionality. TTUHSC and TTUHSC El Paso have technology initiatives to upgrade their own phone and communications tools so that they can connect with our Teams environment.

During this transition, Texas Tech University and Texas Tech University System Administration employees should continue to sign in to SfB for telephone functionality and location information for 911 calls, and also Teams for collaboration functions and meetings. After the migration, SfB will be discontinued, and Teams will provide all the functionality currently provided by Teams and SfB.

In addition to SfB and Teams, we also provide a couple of other communication and collaboration tools to enrich the teaching and work experience at the university:

• Zoom conferencing
  • Synchronous classroom instruction and online meetings up to 300 attendees (with dial-in options)
  • Webinars up to 10,000 attendees (additional charge to departments for larger webinars and/or dedicated webinar licenses)
  • Full session transcription
• Blackboard Collaborate Ultra
  • Synchronous classroom instruction up to 250 attendees (with dial-in options)
  • Live virtual sessions with students
  • Native integration with the TTU learning management system, Blackboard Learn

For more information, questions, or assistance, please contact IT Help Central at www.askIT.ttu.edu. You may also reach us by phone at 806-742-HELP or ithelpcentral@ttu.edu.