First tweet i read this morning from Randy Chapman was the news that i think all Mac users have been waiting a long time for. There is a Skype for Business Mac Client !!!! thanks Randy for the heads up as always. I had a mac for a years but i don’t use it alot to be honest im mainly a windows fan and use my mac once in a while.
Thought spent i little time collecting some information into a blog post on the mac client and sharing my install of the client and a quick look around.
Also Iain Smith (MVP) talks about the Mac client in the Skype show episode 10 here
Microsoft client Download link
Points to Note before you download the client.
Download Skype for Business and enjoy it on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Skype for Business, formerly Lync 2013 for iOS, extends the power of Lync and Skype to your favorite mobile device: voice & video over wireless, rich presence, instant messaging, conferencing, and calling features from a single, easy-to-use interface. Skype for Business 2015, 2016, or 2019 client Skype for Business on Mac Lync 2013 client; Pre-populated Contacts list View and Modify Contacts list Tag contacts for status change alerts Control privacy relationships Search the corporate address book Search Microsoft Outlook contacts Manage contact groups.
System requirements for your MAC to use Skype for Business
- OSX 10.11 (El Capitan) or OSX 10.12 (Sierra)
- Outlook Mac build 15.27 (161010) required for Outlook integration
Office 365 and Lync / Skype for Business Server topology
Microsoft are recommending to get the latest and greatest to move to Skype for Business Online but that not an option for everyone. Cheeky Msft.
For on premise bad boys Looks like there will be new CUs for SfB Server and Lync Server to remove requirement for mobility to be deployed and also to support E911.
- Skype for Business Server 2015 or Lync Server 2013
- Skype for Business Server 2015 customers should at a minimum download and install the Skype for Business Server 2015 Cumulative Update version 9319.272 or higher (coming soon)
- Lync Server 2013 Cumulative Update version 8308.973 or higher (coming soon)
- Unfortunately Lync 2010 Server – Lync Server 2010 is not supported – There users will have continue to use the Lync for Mac 2011 client.
Mobility Requirement and Enablement
The Mac client works like a mobile client so you need mobility enabled but I also noticed the below so it looks like there will be a number CU released soon for SfB server and Lync Server which allows the Mac client to work without mobility being enabled. This is a major dependency.
- E-911 support requires Skype for Business Server 2015 CU4 (build 9319.272 or higher, coming soon) or Lync Server 2013 CU8 HF1 (build 8309.973 or higher, coming soon).
- Without Skype for Business Server 2015 CU4 (build 9319.272 or higher, coming soon) or Lync Server 2013 CU8 HF1 (build 8309.973 or higher, coming soon), Skype for Business on Mac requires Mobility enablement on the server side. After updating to builds 9317.272 or 8309.973, Mobility enablement will no longer be required.
Features and Functionality
The Mac client still doesn’t have the same level of features as the Windows based client unfortunately. This i can only see being worked on on future releases. I think Mac users will be very happy to have a new client but still feel they are a little behind with feature set.
This is what’s missing and not available currently
Presence features
- View status based on calendar free/busy information
- Add a custom location
- Use a photo from any public site for My Picture
- (not available in Skype for Business Online)
Skype For Business 2016 Install
Contacts
- Pre-populated Contacts list
- Modify Contacts list
- Tag contacts for status change alerts
- Control privacy relationships
- Manage contact groups
- Search for Response Groups
- Display recent contacts group
- Sort contacts by Group, Relationship, or New (people who’ve added you to their Contacts list)
- Sort contacts by Status (availability)
IM Support
- Log IM conversations in Outlook (If server side conversation history is turned on.) So it needs Exchange 2013, 2016 or online to use.
- Use prepared conversation templates
- Skill search (with SharePoint Server integration)
- (On-premises Skype for Business Server and on-premises SharePoint 2013 are required for skill search.)
- Persistent Chat (Group Chat) integration
- (not available for Skype for Business Online)
- Escalate a Persistent Chat room to a Skype for Business Meeting with one click
- (not available for Skype for Business Online)
- Inline pictures of sender and receiver in IM window
- Inline pictures of sender and receiver in IM window
- Send ink messages
- Receive ink messages
Meetings
- Peer-to-peer video-based screen sharing
- Share a program (if enabled) (View Only)
- Add and present Microsoft PowerPoint files
- Navigate Microsoft PowerPoint files
- Add and edit OneNote meeting notes
- Use a whiteboard
- Conduct polls
- Upload files to share with others
- Create public meetings with static meeting IDs from Outlook
- Q&A Manager
Voice / Telephony
- Manage team call settings
- Manage delegates
- Initiate a call to a Response Group
- Support emergency services (E9-1-1)
- Make calls on behalf of another contact (manager/delegate scenario)
- Handle another’s calls if configured as a delegate
- Manage a high volumes of calls
- Call park
- Group call pickup
Recording Support
- Client-side recording of audio, video, application sharing, desktop sharing, and uploaded content
- Client-side recording of file transfers, shared OneNote pages, and PowerPoint annotations
- Select preferred recording resolution
- Client-side archiving of audio, video, application sharing, desktop sharing, and uploaded content
- Client-side archiving of file transfers, shared OneNote pages, and PowerPoint annotations
- (unavailable in Skype for Business Online)
- Access sign-in logs from Skype for Business icon in the task bar
MAC Install instructions screenshots of client install below
- To install Skype for Business on Mac:
- Click the Download button.
- Click Save to copy the disc image file to your computer.
- Double click the PKG image file.
- Follow the on screen instructions.
Known Issues and theres a few of them
As the Skype for Business Mac client was built from the ground up there’s a number of known issues at the moment.
Big items include no E911 support and you have to have mobility deployed including reverse proxy to sign in as the Mac client works the same as a mobile client. So internal clients need to sign in via the reverse proxy so go out side the network and come back in. Not ideal but it does look like this is being worked on for the next CU or SfB and Lync Server 2013. You also need an edge server for media relay.
Modern Authentication
When i tired to sign in i had to disable two factor authentication on my office 365 for the client to sign in. I couldnt see this listed but may be one to watch out for.
Issue | Comment |
Outlook integration | Requirements for Skype for Business and Outlook integration on Mac: · Mac Outlook version 15.28 or later is required. · Skype for Business must be running. · Same user account needs to be signed into Outlook and Skype for Business. Troubleshooting Outlook integration in case Contacts don’t show presence, online meetings fail to schedule, or there is no dial-in information in meeting invitation: 1. Ensure the user account is the same in Outlook and Skype for Business. 2. Restart Outlook. 3. Reinstall Skype for Business on Mac. 4. Perform clean uninstall of Lync 2010. See How to Perform a Clean Uninstall of Lync for Mac 2011 for more information. 5. Ensure Skype for Business is running and signed in. |
Side-by-side installation | Side-by-side installation of Skype for Business and Lync is not supported on Mac. We recommend that you perform a clean uninstall of Lync for Mac 2011 prior to installing Skype for Business. |
Cannot sign in to Skype for Business | Some Lync profiles might be different from Skype for Business on Mac profiles and can cause a discrepancy. See How to Perform a Clean Uninstall of Lync for Mac 2011 for more information. |
Multiple prompts to leave meeting when pressing the hang-up button on a UC USB device | This is a known issue due to signaling with some USB devices and will be addressed in future updates. |
E-911 support | Requirement: The minimum server version is Skype for Business Server 2015 CU4 (coming soon) or Lync Server 2013 CU8 HF1 (coming soon). Issue: Skype for Business on Mac currently does not support showing a location in the UI, entering a manual location, or multiple emergency numbers. See Plan for emergency services in Skype for Business Server 2015 for more detail. |
Mobility Policy required | With the release of Skype for Business Server 2015 CU4 (coming soon) and Lync Server 2013 CU8 HF1 (coming soon), we will support Skype for Business on Mac as a desktop application. This means that having a mobility policy assigned to Mac users will not be required. Until these server updates, Mobility enablement on the server side is required. |
Accepting incoming call | The call button to accept incoming calls is working for the following devices using Lync for Mac while it doesn’t work on Skype for Skype for Business on Mac. · Polycom CX300 Desk phone · Jabra Bis 2400 II CC, headphone · Jabra Speaker 510 USB speaker · Jabra Evolve 65 (Bluetooth dongle) · Jabra Evolve 65 (USB cable) |
Hold or resume the current call | The hardware hold button works for the following devices for Lync for Mac while it doesn’t work on Skype for Business on Mac. · Polycom CX300 Desk phone · Jabra Bis 2400 II CC, headphone · Jabra Evolve 65 (Bluetooth dongle) · Jabra Evolve 65 (USB cable) |
Can’t see users’ Skype for Business Presence in Outlook 2016 for Mac | If you have Lync for Mac 2011 installed on the same Mac device, Lync for Mac might have changed the configuration. Recommend that you reinstall Skype for Business on Mac. |
Received “We couldn’t send this message” error even when the messages are received by others | If you are using Skype for Business Server 2015 or Lync Server 2013, check if the following configurations are enabled: · For Skype for Business Server 2015, enable Server Side Conversation History. Set the value for EnableIMAutoArchiving to True or False on Client Policy. · For Lync Server 2013, set the value for EnableIMAutoArchiving to False on Client Policy. Our teams are working to address these issues in the next cumulative update of Skype for Business on Mac. |
When opening the calendar tab in Skype for Business, an Exchange credential dialog box appeared | You might see this error if your UPN and SIP addresses do not match, and if AllowSaveCredentials is set to False on Mobility Policy. Workaround: Set AllowSaveCredentials to True on Mobility Policy. |
Features not available in this release | See the Skype for Business on Mac column in Client comparison tables for Skype for Business Server 2015. |
Release Notes
Install Screenshots and walkthrough
Download client from link at top of page, click download.
client added to downloads on Mac
Open .pkg file and follow install
After install the office updater launches and you can set update options and it will check for updates.
After updates complete you can open SfB client on Mac
You can add advanced options if required.
On first sign in i couldn’t sign in and i wondered if the SfB mac client doesn’t support 2 factor authentication / modern authentication. I went to Office 365 tenant and disabled two factor on my user account.
After disabling i was able to sign in ok.
So i don’t think the SfB mac client supports modern authentication yet. One to watch out for.
Client Look around
- Chats tab
- Click on chat to get more information on right panel
Skype For Business 2016 Free
- Meetings
Calls Tab
Conversation Window
Tabs in top right corner
Preferences
Contact compact list like windows client
Skype 2016 Versions
Nice to be able to pause itunes
Meet now
In top bar.
From share you can also share desktop
Change Presence
Good news, the Skype for Business Mac client is now generally available!
It’s been a long time waiting, but Microsoft has hit their October 2016 deadline.
Version: 16.0.0.3638
File Name: SkypeForBusinessInstaller-16.0.0.3638.pkg
Date Published: 10/26/2016
File Size: 35.9 MB
Skype for Business Mac Download Link: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=54108
For the best Mac client experiences and an always up-to-date infrastructure, we recommend all customers migrate to Office 365. Skype for Business Server 2015 customers should at a minimum download and install the Skype for Business Server 2015 Cumulative Update version 9319.272 or higher (coming soon). Lync Server 2013 customers should consider upgrading their installation to Skype for Business Server 2015 or downloading the latest Lync Server 2013 Cumulative Update version 8308.973 or higher (coming soon). Lync Server 2010 is not supported – instead, we recommend customers continue to use the Lync for Mac 2011 client.
Skype for Mac Known issues: https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Known-issues-Skype-for-Business-on-Mac-494ac5d5-50be-4aa7-8f5a-669c71c98c9a?ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US&fromAR=1
FAQ: https://support.office.com/en-us/article/FAQ-Skype-for-Business-on-Mac-878fff6e-fc22-4917-870a-584478cb55ef?ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US&fromAR=1
Requirements Mac OS X
- Skype for Business Server 2015 or Lync Server 2013
- OSX 10.11 (El Capitan) or OSX 10.12 (Sierra)
- Outlook Mac build 15.27 (161010) required for Outlook integration
Key Features:
- one-click join,
- edge-to-edge video
- full screen sharing
Training session from Microsoft Introducing Skype for Business on Mac, here: https://www.skypeoperationsframework.com/Academy?TechnicalProductTrainings
This session will walk you through the new Skype for Business on Mac client. It will show you the user experience, walk you through the features and will take a look under the hood – pointing out when Skype for Business for Mac is different than other clients. It concludes with troubleshooting information.
Great walkthrough of all the detail from Martin here: https://ucmart.uk/2016/10/27/skype-for-business-for-mac-available-for-download-quick-summary-of-client/
List of Additional Known Issues from Iain here: https://northernlync.wordpress.com/2016/10/27/skype-for-mac-ga-7-other-known-issues-not-mentioned/