It’s finally here! Microsoft has at last released the new Mac client for Skype for Business.
(Okay, it was released on October 26. But I was on vacation.)
Skype for Mac allows you to call your contacts and video chat with them, as well as make phone calls to landlines or cell phones. It's also capable of hosting. Here’s an overview of the new Skype for Business 2016 Mac client. As stated in the introduction, anyone can now download Skype for Business for Mac from Microsoft. The system requirements for Skype for Business on Mac are OS X 10.11 El Capitan or macOS Sierra 10.12.
As soon as I saw the announcement, I grabbed a copy and one of our test Macs. The same Mac on which I’d tested the Skype Preview earlier in the year (and had several issues). Fortunately, the new Mac client installed & ran smoothly.
Get the Mac Client
Download Skype for Business on Mac here: Skype for Business on Mac – Microsoft Download Center
(Curious note: Microsoft has a page up for Skype for Business apps: Download Skype for Business across all your devices. The Mac client version available here? It’s still Lync for Mac 2011. Somebody didn’t do their update…)
So what do we have for our Mac friends? The new client is, I’d say, a fair and equitable companion to the Windows Skype for Business client. There are some differences, and (as of now) a few limitations. But overall, I think our Mac customers will enjoy this client very much.
What the Mac Client Has
You wouldn’t expect any Skype for Business client not to have all the basics. The Mac client is no different. Presence status, IM, making/receiving phone calls, Meetings (Meet Now and Scheduled Skype Meetings), video calling, screen sharing…all are included. It even has a couple new features: One-click Meeting Join. Full-screen sharing.
All within a nice clean typical-Mac-UI interface.
Being a Windows guy, I thought for a moment that they’d stripped out many of the options. Until I realized that those options were available in the Skype for Business navigation menus instead.
Which actually led me to finding some notable differences between client versions.
Differences from Windows Client
In keeping with the Mac’s “streamlined UI” motif, several items you’d find right away in the Windows client aren’t showing in the Mac client. At least, not at a glance.
For instance, Call Forwarding. You can set Call Forwarding options in 2 places on Windows – in Skype for Business’ Options, and in the Call Forwarding dropdown along the bottom of the Windows client.
The latter option is not available in Skype4B on Mac. You can only set Call Forwarding in the Preferences window, under Calls.
(As you see here, setting your Voicemail Greeting is also under Calls.)
Also, Device selection. Through which device will you make & receive calls? On Windows, Skype for Business lets you choose this in the same 2 places as Call Forwarding. On Mac, Skype for Business only lets you do this in Preferences, under Audio/Video.
By default, Instant Messaging windows open in the main Skype for Business window, under “Chats.” Chats also serves as Conversation History in the Mac client.
(If you want separate windows for Instant Messaging conversations, check the “Show conversations in separate windows” box in the Preferences/General window.)
Limitations & Known Issues
This is a V1 client. I’m sure Microsoft could have held it back longer for more feature additions, but they opted not to. Kind of glad they did; Mac users have dealt with Lync for Mac for too long.
That said, the new Mac client does have limitations. A few features Windows users enjoy are not available…at least not at this stage.
- No Application Sharing (yet).
- Persistent Chat is NOT integrated.
- No Delegate management.
- No initiating calls to Response Groups.
- Call Park is not available.
In terms of known issues, Microsoft has already published a list: Known Issues – Skype for Business on Mac
One to note here: you can’t have both Lync for Mac and Skype for Business on Mac clients installed side-by-side. If you use Lync for Mac, uninstall it before installing Skype for Business.
I came across one of the issues almost immediately. If you’re logged into Skype for Business with one account, but logged into Outlook with another, Skype Meeting functionality doesn’t come up in Outlook.
Even when you’re logged in with the same account, you may need to use the “Online Meeting” button to add Skype Meeting URLs/dial-in numbers to a Meeting invite. When I first opened a new Meeting, I had a blank invite. I clicked the Online Meeting button, and you see the result below. Instant Skype Meeting.
It’s Finally Here! Go Install Skype for Business on your Mac
Mac Skype For Business Client Side Log
Final impressions: I’m glad Microsoft did the Preview. This client was all-new, and it definitely had bugs. Leveraging the Skype4B community is a good way to hunt them down quickly.
Skype Client For Linux
The new Mac client is stable; I’ve had it running for over 36 hours now with no errors or crashes. It has a good feature set. It’s ready for day-to-day use. And we’re all happy for that!
For a full feature list, check the now-updated client comparison table: Client Comparison Tables for Skype for Business Server 2015
(Just remember to uninstall Lync for Mac first. And the Skype Preview client, if you tried that out!)
Skype Meetings App Install
What do you think of Skype for Business on Mac? Please comment below or email in your thoughts.