The latest information about the Microsoft Ignite conference has left a lot of companies buzzing about the upcoming updates to Skype for Business. Various sessions for the Ignite event centre around Skype for Business, which is something of a relief after months of silence in the sector. The session surrounding a new Skype for Business on-premises server solution means that we can all start looking forward to a new server, potentially ready for access in 2018.
The session is called “Plan your UC refresh correctly: Skype for Business On-Premises vNext”. Although we can only speculate on what “vNext” means to Microsoft, there’s a lot of agreement in the communications space that it outlines the arrival of a next version application, hardware, or software.
What Else Can We Expect from Ignite?
Of course, there’s more to be excited about when it comes to Microsoft Ignite than just the potential for a new version of Skype for Business server. In fact, there is a host of Skype for Business sessions planned for people who love the communications application.
One of the most obvious changes that we’ll see in the coming year, is the changes to names throughout the Skype for Business Portfolio. For instance, the “Cloud PBX“, which might have been considered something a little too close to technical jargon for non-tech-savvy customers, will now be “Microsoft’s Phone System“.
There’s a chance that we’ll also see some more talk about the Skype for Business application on the cloud, as that part of the business has been a strong feature for Microsoft lately. In fact, they just added more features to the cloud solution in March.
Additionally, you can expect to see some clarification around how businesses can make the most out of a combination of Microsoft Skype for Business, and their UC&C service “Teams“, which seems to offer a lot of the same features.
Set your Schedule for Microsoft Ignite
This year’s Microsoft Ignite conference will be in Orlando, Florida, between the dates of September 25th and 29th. Interestingly, however, it will now only be taking place in America, as the planned New Zealand Skype for Business Ignite conference was cancelled towards the beginning of the month as a “commercial” decision by the company.
