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.

Last Updated: September 17, 2018 You can now finally. The final version was released late on 26th October 2016 although Microsoft slipped it out quietly overnight as there was no until later. The to the new client was also released on November 22nd to include contact group management, contact tagging and stability improvements.

Note that if you’re still using the Preview of Skype for Business on Mac, you can install the final release alongside it – it won’t copy over the Preview installation. Microsoft does recommend uninstalling Lync 2011 first as it may conflict with the new client. Here we take a closer look at the new Skype for Business Mac. The long awaited release of the Skype for Business Mac client was delayed in Q3 by Microsoft.

It was originally due for release in Q3 2016 but then revised to October 2016 although this seemed increasingly unlikely as October drew to a close. Even just a few days ago “we aren’t able to provide the exact date when Skype for Business 2016 Mac Client will be released”. It’s now clear that Microsoft simply left it very late in the month to release Skype for Business on Mac.

SfB has been long awaited on Mac to replace the highly unreliable and maligned which hasn’t been updated by Microsoft since 2011. Until now, Mac users have either been stuck with the Lync or had to use or the recently released service in the meantime (more on those two later). Here’s an overview of the new Skype for Business 2016 Mac client. As stated in the introduction, anyone can now from Microsoft. The system requirements for Skype for Business on Mac are OS X 10.11 El Capitan or macOS Sierra 10.12. It will not work on OS X 10.7 Lion, OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, OS X 10.9 Mavericks or OS X 10.10 Yosemite. You’ll also need to make sure you’ve upgraded the server to Skype for Business Server 2015 or Lync Server 2013.

For Outlook integration you need at least Outlook Mac build 15.27 (161010). Note for any other technical doubts, the (SOF) has also been updated to help system admins roll out Skype for Business for Mac in enterprise environments. The Skype for Business Mac download runs the Skype for Business for Mac installer which requires your Mac admin password to install and will also prompt you to close your browser while you install it. Note that the Skype for Business Mac installer also installs Microsoft Update on your Mac to keep the software updated. When you launch Skype for Business on your Mac for the first time, it will automatically ask you whether you want to check for software updates manually or automatically and offer you the chance to join the Office Insider program: Skype for Business will then launch and you log on using your organization credentials: The advanced options also allow you to configure a proxy for SfB to use: When you launch Skype for Business for Mac, you’ll need to enter your organization username and password.

Important: You can save to any Windows Live OneDrive or to a server that has Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 or Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010. To work with SharePoint in Office for Mac, you have to have Microsoft Office for Mac Home and Business 2011, Microsoft Office for Mac Academic 2011, or Microsoft Office for Mac Standard 2011. Turn tracked changes on or off When tracked changes are turned on, Word marks any changes that are made by any authors of the document. Word for mac how to hide preview text when printing to pdf.

Note that a Skype username or Microsoft account will not work. However, even as late as the 24th of October 2016, Microsoft Support said it could no longer confirm when the Skype for Business Mac client will be released suggesting that it probably wouldn’t be released in October as planned.: We aren’t able to provide the exact date when Skype for Business 2016 Mac Client will be released. Microsoft Support simply referred Mac users to the for further news although at the time of writing, even that hasn’t been updated to announce the final version has been released. SfB Preview Version The SfB Preview is effectively the Skype for Business Mac Beta version and is therefore incomplete and is subject to bugs and crashes. You can still run the Preview of Skype for Business for Mac side-by-side with both the final version of Skype for Business and Lync for Mac so you don’t have to worry about breaking or overwriting the Preview or Lync if you install the final release.