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Using Lync-Skype connectivity

Microsoft Lync Server 2013 supports connectivity with Microsoft Skype software. From the
living room to boardroom, Lync-Skype connectivity helps improve communication and
productivity. With Lync-Skype connectivity, Skype users and Lync users can add each other
as contacts, exchange instant messages (IMs), and make audio calls.

Topics in this guide include:

Understanding Installing Skype Adding contacts

requirements

Having conversations For more information

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Understanding requirements
To connect Lync users with the Skype community, Lync administrators must first enable
Lync-Skype connectivity. Lync and Skype users can then add contacts, share presence,
exchange person-to-person (1:1) IMs, and make audio calls. The following table covers
these capabilities in greater detail.

You can connect Lync users to Skype by using the Microsoft Lync 2010 or Microsoft
Lync 2013 desktop clients, and any of the Lync 2013 mobile clients.
To connect Skype users to Lync, you must install the latest Skype client. You must also
sign in to Skype by using a Microsoft account in order to communicate with Lync
contacts.
Table 1. Capabilities of Lync-Skype connectivity.

Subject Lync Skype

Add Lync contacts.
Add Skype contacts. Carry over Microsoft Office Communicator
Contacts Block specific Skype contacts. or Lync federated contacts from Windows
Block all communications from Skype. Live Messenger.

Presence See presence of Skype contacts. See presence of Lync contacts.

IMs Exchange 1:1 IMs. Exchange 1:1 IMs.

Make 1:1 audio calls. Make 1:1 audio calls.
Audio calls Hold or resume audio calls. Hold/resume audio calls.
Transfer audio calls to Lync contacts.

NOTE: For information about setting up Lync-Skype connectivity in an enterprise, see

Provisioning Guide for Lync-Skype Connectivity at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-
us/library/dn440173.aspx.

Installing Skype
You can install the Windows desktop client or choose from a variety of Skype clients for
different devices.

To get the latest Skype client:

1. Go to the Downloads page on the Skype website at

http://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-computer.
1. Tap or click Get Skype for Windows desktop (or choose another Skype version) and
follow the provided instructions.
NOTE: For more information about installing Skype, see Getting started with Skype (Windows
desktop) at https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA11098/getting-started-with-skype-windows-
desktop or Getting started with Skype for modern Windows at
https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA12101/getting-started-with-skype-windows-8-or-above#1.
3 | Using Lync-Skype connectivity

Creating a Microsoft account

If you dont have a Microsoft account (previously called a Windows Live ID), its easy to
create one.

To create a Microsoft account:

1. Go to the Create an account page at https://signup.live.com/signup.aspx

2. Fill out the form, and then tap or click Create account.
TIP: If youre creating a business account, choose a name that reflects your organization.
For example, you can use FirstName.LastName.OrganizationName/Initials when youre
creating a business account. This makes it easier for people in the organization to find and
add each other.

Merging accounts
You can merge your existing Skype account with your Microsoft account for single sign-on
across a variety of applications and services.

To merge accounts:

1. Start the Skype application.

2. Tap or click I have a Skype account.
3. Type your Skype Name and password, and then tap or click Sign in.
4. Review the accounts that youre about to merge. If everything is okay, tap or click
Continue.

Adding contacts
For Lync and Skype users to connect, they must be added as contacts. The following
procedures walk you though the various ways of adding contacts, along with configuring
Lync alerts to ensure that requests from a Skype user appear and are discoverable.

To add a Skype contact to Lync:

1. From Lync, tap or click Add a Contact, and then tap or click Add a Contact Not in My
Organization.
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2. From the list of available contact providers, select Skype.

3. In the IM Address box, type the Microsoft

account of the Skype user.
4. In the Add to contact group list, select a
contact group to add the user to.
5. In the Set privacy relationship list, select the
appropriate contact setting, and then tap or
click OK.
The user now appears as a contact in Lync. To
view the users properties, right-click the user
name, and then tap or click See Contact Card.

To add a Skype contact to Lync when the contact is using a custom domain name:

1. From Lync, tap or click Add a Contact, and then tap or click Add a Contact Not in My
Organization.
2. From the list of available contact providers, select Skype.
3. In the IM Address box, type the Microsoft account of the Skype user in the format
user(domain)@msn.com. For example, for user bob@contoso.com, you would type
bob(contoso.com)@msn.com.
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IMPORTANT: This step is not required for Microsoft accounts that use the following
domain names: @live.com, @hotmail.com, and @outlook.com. For more information about
supported custom domain names, see Known issues that occur with public instant
messaging and Lync Server or Communications Server at
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/897567.
4. In the Add to contact group list, select a contact group to add the user to.
5. In the Set privacy relationship list, select the appropriate contact setting, and then tap
or click OK.
TIP: You can also use the Find someone or a room, or dial a number box in Lync and add
an address that resembles user(domain)@msn.com. So for the bob@contoso.com
Microsoft account, you would use bob(contoso.com)@msn.com for the entry.

To configure Lync alerts:

1. From Lync, tap or click the Options icon.

2. Tap or click Alerts.
3. Under General alerts, select the Tell me when someone adds me to his or her
contact list check box.
4. Under Contacts not using Lync, select the Allow invites but block all other
communications check box.
5. To close the Lync - Options dialog box, tap or click OK.
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To add a Lync contact to Skype:

1. Sign in to your Skype client by using your Microsoft account.

2. Tap or click the Add Contacts icon.

3. On the search screen, type the Lync users email address (for example,
bob@contoso.com), and then tap or click the Search icon.
4. When Skype finds the match in the search results, look for the word Lync below the
Lync users name. This indicates that Skype successfully located the Lync user. Tap or
click the name.
5. In the upper-right corner of the conversation window that opens, tap or click Add to
Contacts.

The new contact is now added to your contact list, but you will see a question mark
instead of their status icon until they accept your request. When your new contact
accepts your request, you can see when theyre online, initiate IM conversations, and
make audio calls.
7 | Using Lync-Skype connectivity

Important Note: The Lync Server administrator must configure the Lync users policy settings
to allow incoming requests. If not, the Lync user will not receive contact requests from the Skype
user. Depending on the configuration of the Lync users policy settings, the request to add the
Skype user will appear on the Lync clients New tab. To begin communicating with the Skype
user, the Lync user must add the Skype user to either the Favorites list or a contact list.

Having conversations
As shown in the following table, not all Lync features are available when youre
communicating with Skype contacts.

Table 2. Available and unavailable Lync features for communicating with Skype
contacts.

Available with Skype users Not available with Skype users

Presence Video conversations

1:1 IMs Audio or IM conversations with two or more people
1:1 audio calls Desktop and program sharing
Finding and adding Lync contacts in Skype

Communicating with a Skype user from Lync

From Lync, choose how you want to communicate with a Skype user.

To send an IM:
1. Select the Skype user, and then tap or click Send an IM.
2. Type your message, and then tap or click Send.
8 | Using Lync-Skype connectivity

To place an audio call:

Select the Skype user, tap or click Call, and then tap or click Lync Call.

Communicating with a Lync user from Skype

From Skype, choose how you want to communicate with a Lync user.
Note: Your contact must be available (a green icon is displayed next to their name) for you to
select them in the following procedures.

To send an IM:
1. Tap or click the Contacts tab, and then select the Lync user.
2. In the conversation box in the main window, type a message, and then tap or click
Send.

To place an audio call:

1. Tap or click the Contacts tab, select the Lync user, and then tap or click Call.
2. When youre finished, tap or click the end call icon.

Note: If your contact is not available and you want to call them on their mobile or landline number, youll need Skype
Credit or a subscription. For more information, see Skype Credit at http://www.skype.com/go/skypecredit/?intcmp=CS-
Upsell-FA12106-1 and Rates at http://www.skype.com/en/rates/.
9 | Using Lync-Skype connectivity

Scheduling meetings
You cannot communicate with two or more Skype users at the same time. You can,
however, set up a conference call with multiple Skype users by inviting them to a Lync
Meeting. For more information, see Set up a Lync meeting at
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/office365-lync-online-
help/redir/HA102827058.aspx?CTT=5&origin=HA104102480 .

Tip: Before you send the meeting invitation, tap or click Meeting options on the ribbon,
and then under Permissions, tap or click A new meeting space (I control permissions).
That way, the Skype users will not have to wait in the lobby before they join the meeting.

Troubleshooting conversations
Privacy settings may block incoming messages. If you arent receiving incoming messages, check your privacy
settings for Lync and Skype.

To verify Lync settings:

1. From Lync, tap or click the Options icon.
2. Tap or click Alerts.
3. Verify that Block all invites and communications is not selected, because it blocks all
incoming Skype requests.

To verify Skype settings:

1. From Skype, tap or click the Options icon.
2. Tap or click Privacy settings.
10 | Using Lync-Skype connectivity

3. Verify that people in my Contact list only is not selected, because it prevents all non-
contact Skype (not just Lync) calls.

For more information

Lync-Skype connectivity features
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/lync/lync-skype-connectivity-
FX103789635.aspx?ss=b9b6dac4-26f5-40dd-915b-d8dcd53087c1&ss-
src=featuredhelp

Microsoft Lync
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/lync/

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This guide is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR
STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT. 2014 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.