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Last year we announced the July 31, 2021 retirement of Skype for Business Online. In addition to the discontinuation of Skype for Business Online, other “Hybrid Voice” configurations that depend on the service will require changes as well.
 
Organizations with hybrid Skype for Business configurations for on-premises Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) connectivity and online Phone System capabilities
Some organizations have split users between homed on-premises for PSTN connectivity and homed online for Phone System capabilities. Once access to Skype for Business Online ends, organizations will need to transition online users to Microsoft Teams and connect their on-premises telephony network to Teams through Direct Routing.
 
Skype for Business Online customers using Cloud Connector Edition to integrate Phone System services from the Microsoft cloud with their existing on-premises configuration (PBX, call centers, devices, etc.) and PSTN connectivity
As Skype for Business Cloud Connector Edition (CCE) was designed as a virtual on-premises deployment to bridge Skype for Business Online with a customer’s on-premises setup and PSTN connectivity, CCE will also retire July 31, 2021 along with the Skype for Business Online service. Once an organization has transitioned from Skype for Business Online to Teams Only, they can connect their on-premises telephony network to Teams through Direct Routing. To learn more about Direct Routing in Microsoft Teams, watch this helpful Coffee in the Clouds video.
 
If your organization uses Skype for Business Online as part of its voice and routing configurations, ensure you plan for the necessary changes in advance of the retirement of the service. Learn more about PSTN connectivity in hybrid environments and other flexible Microsoft telephony solutions.
 
See you on Teams!

Brought to you by Dr. Ware, Microsoft Office 365 Silver Partner, Charleston SC.