M365 Changelog: Reminder: Skype for Business Online retires July 31, 2021

MC270667 – Note: If your organization has already transitioned from Skype for Business Online to Microsoft Teams, please disregard this message.

Originally announced in MC219641 (July ’20), as Microsoft Teams has become the core communications client for Microsoft 365, this is a reminder the Skype for Business Online service will retire July 31, 2021.

How this will affect your organization

• If your organization has been scheduled for a Microsoft-assisted upgrade from Skype for Business Online to Teams, you will receive corresponding notifications within Message Center containing additional information.
• After the Skype for Business Online service retires, your organization may continue to use Microsoft Teams as part of an existing licensing agreement.
• Support for the integration of third-party party Audio Conferencing Providers (ACP) into Skype for Business Online will end as Skype for Business Online retires.
• Neither the Skype consumer service nor Skype for Business Server products are affected by the retirement of Skype for Business Online.

What you need to do to prepare

Microsoft encourage customers using Skype for Business Online to plan and begin the upgrade to Teams today. To help, Microsoft offers comprehensive transition resources including a proven upgrade framework, guidance for technical and organizational readiness, on-demand upgrade planning workshops, and FastTrack onboarding assistance for eligible subscriptions.