Datalink Networks Technology Blog

We can understand how implementing modern unified communications revolutionizes our clients' businesses - because we're users, too. Our own organization benefited from the freedom and added flexibility our staff gained when we first deployed Microsoft Lync. And it's only gotten better with the improved UI and different deployment scenarios of Skype for Business - because every organization utilizes these tools differently.

More than 23,000 technology professionals are assembling in Chicago's McCormack Place this week for Microsoft Ignite: the software giant's biggest, baddest conference yet for the IT professional community. This conference covers the entire spectrum of Microsoft's Enterprise and education product offerings, replacing separate events for Exchange, Lync, Sharepoint and TechEd.

Workplace collaboration tools have turned out to be extremely popular with users - but with success comes new challenges: such as how to integrate all those new apps within the organization. This is especially true when it comes to user demand for consumer apps. 

This is one of the reasons Microsoft rebranded Lync as Skype for Business: combining the proven Enterprpise features of its trusted UC&C solution with the familiar UI of Skype is an all-around win-win. 

Industry pundits termed Tuesday's release of Skype for Business as a component of Office 365 a "game changer," for Microsoft's directive to host Enterprise Voice in the cloud. In our opinion, this is the most exciting development in office cloud technology. The best is yet to come.

Catch our five essential Skype for Business resources here.

Today Microsoft began rolling out Skype for Business to the world (the client became available today, with Skype for Business server due on May 1). And industry sources agree: It promises to be a game changer. Here are five online resources to help with the transition: