University IT recommends Zoom for creating useful and effective collaborative environments online that can be used to engage both students and colleagues. Online Classroom/ Collaboration and Training Webinars University IT recommends Skype for Business as the application of choice for daily communications with your office co-workers and invited non-UR colleagues. University IT recommends Zoom for running online meetings and conferences

Visit the Skype for Business page for more information. Sending a quick message or file through Skype for Business revolves around the intuitive chat interface, familiar to those who have used Office Communicator, Lync, or Skype, and can easily integrate video and audio from the chat window. Skype for Business allows the user to connect easily and quickly with co-workers using instant messaging, screen and document sharing, and informal audio/video calls. Skype for Business has many of the same features as Zoom, however, Skype for Business excels as an office communications solution. Visit the Zoom page for more information. Zoom also includes a chat utility that can be used to communicate directly with the session leader/instructor or with other attendees. Attendees can virtually raise their hand allowing the session leader/instructor greater control over the collaborative classroom setting by ensuring thoughts and opinions are shared in turn. Zoom allows the meeting organizer full control of the meeting such as muting all microphones and controlling attendees’ presentation access. Zoom features breakout sessions that enable you to split your viewers into smaller groups in situations such as a training webinar or online class session. Skype for Business calling is limited to calls between users until you reach the Office 365 E3 tier (20 per user, per month). Outside the scope of document-building and spreadsheet software, however, Skype for Business call costs can be examined on their own. Zoom is a cloud-based technology that offers a full spectrum of conferencing tools to help increase productivity and can be used to lower costs by reducing travel expenses and equipment purchases. Microsoft Teams reaches into a lot of areas that VirtualPBX doesn’t.

Skype for business features and pricing