Skype for Business will no longer be available to WVU employees as of March 3, and ITS is recommending the use of Microsoft Teams as a powerful replacement for collaboration and communication. This change affects all WVU campuses. If you try to log into Skype on or after March 3, you will see a message pointing you to Teams.
Skype will be removed from ITS-supported computers March 4-6. The deactivation of Skype at WVU is the first in a series of changes that will be required to accommodate several Microsoft initiatives between now and summer 2021. Future changes, which will not affect HSC, will be timed to minimize disruption during busy periods of the academic and fiscal year.
Teams is available as an online or mobile app, as well as a desktop client. To get started, refer to the instructions in the FAQ. Here are some key features:
Keep in touch with your Skype contacts by importing them when you first install Teams.
Connect with others one on one or in small groups using the Chat feature.
Collaborate in real time by accessing and editing Word, PowerPoint, SharePoint and Excel files. Each Team has its own Files section for various types of media.
Set up video conferencing for virtual meetings.
Just make sure you cancel any Skype meetings and recreate them in Teams. If you have an active audio-conferencing license, it will work with Teams.
Reduce the need for long, complex and difficult to find email threads. Teams has a persistent chat feature, meaning new collaborators will be able to read through and catch up on past conversations.
Customize your notifications. Unread messages will go to your email after one hour by default, but you can choose any timing you like.