Microsoft rolls out Skype for Business Mac Public Preview

In its Office Blogs, Microsoft has announced the start of the Skype for Business Mac Preview. Commercial customers can request an invite to test the Mac client. Microsoft will start issuing invite to IT administrators to download the client and gradually expand the preview to everyone in the coming weeks. The preview will release in three cumulative stages, leading to public availability, planned for the third quarter of 2016. This initial release will let users see and join in meetings. In its blog, Microsoft charts out the functionality rolling out today and what will be available in the future. In Preview phase one, once users sign in, they should be able to see meetings for the day and the day after, based on their Outlook calendar, displayed in the Skype for Business client. Users can experience full screen video, content viewing, in-meeting chat and ability to invite others to the meeting. In Preview phase two, Microsoft will be adding instant messaging, presence and contacts. Users can continue to use Lync for Mac 2011 side-by-side with Skype for Mac Preview, giving continued access to messaging and voice features, says the company. Preview phase three will see the addition of telephony and related features. To get started, IT administrators can sign up their organisation by visiting the Skype for Business Preview site. Each day Microsoft will issue invitations to IT administrators, with a view to sending it to everyone in the coming weeks. Once an IT administrator downloads the preview client, they can manage its distribution to ends users within the organisation.