Office 365 gives us a tremendous tool for collaboration. An organization can share inside organization, and share with external users to their own organization.

But there are some hurdles in doing so. I therefore have created a series of articles covering the aspect of collaboration in such an environment.

1. Skype or no Skype, first step in any Collaboration often is to share your screen, talk together, one part explaining problems and other party trying to solve issues. However, if you only manage to call… phone… Collaboration is limited.
2. Collaboration in place, the next hurdle, is the user account to use. An organisational/tenant account with or without licenses, users own email registered with Microsoft: Microsoft account. In total 3 alternatives, each having its pro and cons.
3. Team room linked to a group, or a classic team site or similar.. This is to a large extend dependent on what you choose in #2.

And What you choose.. Should be based on the competence and needs of the users, and the organisation..

Collaboration in place, the next hurdle, is the user account to use. An organisational/tenant account with or without licenses, users own email registered with Microsoft: Microsoft account. In total 3 alternatives, each having its pro and cons.

 

1. External user e.g. with a Gmail account.

Can edit documents with office web aps, no access to shared calendars or mailboxes in team rooms. Can receive copy of incoming emails to teams.

Usage: Junior partner… occasional user … external user … private user..

Problem: Creating a Microsoft account can be too much … for to many …

 

1. Internal tenant user without license

As for External user e.g. with a Gmail account. Can edit documents with office web aps, no access to shared calendars or mailboxes in team rooms. BUT without working email… you cant even forward messages to user. Copy of incoming team email not possible.

Usage: Limited , but for permanent read only users it can be used. But sharing direcly with URL, is probably easier.

Only advantage : User receives email , with organisational id and password.

1. Internal tenant user with license

All advantages, even with smallest license . Edit documents with office web aps, access to shared calendars or mailboxes in team rooms. With working email… you cant forward messages to user. And One drive is working

 

No wrong answer , no right answer. Depends on mix of users , internal to external, if it’s a charity or .org or .com business. Etc etc etc.. As always , need to know what you need .. then its easy to deside.

 The first thing to observe here is that Skype… not necessarily is Skype. Skype exists in two different versions, the old freeware Skype for desktop and Skype for business.

And If you find this to technical : Jump right to the recommendation part…

The Blue “S” on white Background is business version; the white “S” on blue background is the old free Skype.

The Business version give attendees the possibility to share screens, take control over another pc and is a safe and flexible tool to for education and training.

The Skype Desktop app… Is a free internet phone and video. The two versions ARE NOT COMPATIBLE.

In this context I will assume that the chair of the meeting is using a Business version of skype, and it is a requirement that at least ONE participant has a licence for the Business version.

 

The one problem with the business version is that the company owning the PC can have rules for which other domains the Skype user can use, and network limitations.

Also MAC users can be a problem , or … also MAC users can have problems… 😊

Recommendations

First, do not use the SKYPE for desktop application. It is only working with itself, its old and something very different, but sadly looking the same.

The invitation will contain two LINKS, every invitation can be different, but somewhere you should find:

Join Skype Meeting          Try Skype Web App  

 

If you are an experienced Skype for Business user , having the try JOIN THE MEETING. If not use TRY THE SKYPE WEB APP . ( By clicking on their respective links. )

When opening the web app first time it downloads it code, you can trust it ..

 

 

The meeting is opening in a new window , and it looks like this :

 

Just enter any name … like guest .. or sign in if you have a Microsoft account. DO NOT USE YOUR SKYPE DESKTOP APP .

 

Using a MAC ? Procedure the same.