Last Updated on October 12, 2021 by Mathew Diekhake
As promised, we have rolled out the change to use Skype for Business desktop app on Mac as our web-downloadable meetings client instead of Skype Meetings App (SMA)!
The change applies to meetings that are hosted on Skype for Business Online or on Skype for Business Server 2015 that is configured to use the Microsoft Content Delivery Network (CDN). (If your server is not configured to use the online CDN, there is no change to your experience.)
The desktop app brings many advantages over SMA: Screen sharing, audio, and video are significantly more reliable. The meeting experience is built around a larger and more immersive display of video and shared content. Screen sharing from the Mac uses Video-based Screen Sharing (VbSS), which is faster and more reliable than Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) used by SMA. The app has also been optimized to work well with macOS 10.14 (Mojave), including Dark Mode.
When you click to join a meeting on a Mac, you will see this screen in your browser:
“How would you like to join your meeting?” web page when joining a Skype for Business meeting
Selecting Download and install Skype for Business will download the SfB desktop installer (recently reduced in size from 47 MB to 35 MB):
Web page for downloading the SfB app installer
Click the download to install the app. Users who do not have administrator permissions on their Mac should choose the Install for me only option on the Destination Select page of the installer.
Destination Select page of SfB Installer
When Skype for Business opens, you have the option to sign in (if the meeting is from your own organization or an organization that is federated with yours) or to join a guest.
Join as a Guest screen in Skype for Business
We are excited to bring these improvements to our Mac users, and we look forward to your continued feedback on Skype for Business!
Source: Skype for Business desktop now available as web download app on Mac
Microsoft Community Blog – Skype for Business | Skype for Business desktop now available as web download app on Mac#UFO365Articles #Office365 #SkypeForBusiness https://t.co/ZuovZSCK4c
— Updates for Office 365 (@UpdatesForO365) April 8, 2019
April 21, 2019 @ 07:16
I’m shopping for new laptop. I’m thinking of going Windows this time over Mac. Suggestions?
April 21, 2019 @ 07:16
We get a lot of messages asking how long will the 7th gen processor last in a laptop for everyday use.
The answer is a very long time. It should last you longer than the device itself.
But if you spend more money on something that’s also equipped with good graphics capabilities, to go along with the processor and RAM, then you’re guaranteed to always have a laptop that will be suitable for a very long time. This in our opinion is the better way to go if you’re actually looking to save money in the long run.
Spend a few thousand dollars on a laptop like the MSI Prestige PS63 and don’t look back for another 8 years.
Windows laptops are of course famous for offering a wide variety for everyone’s needs. If you’re a heavy gamer, then you may need to take a different strategy. Or if you know you won’t ever game at all or will never need a good graphics card for any professional work, then you can also check out cheaper options.
April 21, 2019 @ 07:15
They say that Skype was a bad purchase but it is used by many people and that usage will probably only continue to grow by a lot once people move away from making traditional phone calls and start making video calls instead. About the only thing standing in Skype’s way is people not really wanting to be on camera.
April 21, 2019 @ 07:15
I have no idea why Microsoft would do this. The only thing keeping Apple from total collapse is their services that people don’t want to live without such as iMessage. And Apple would never share that with other brands.
And yet here we are, seeing Microsoft share one of their best commodities with Apple. This is only going to help strengthen Apple by giving its customers something they desperately needed.