Lifesize has announced it has enhanced its Skype for Business interoperability to simplify cross-platform audio, video and web conferencing. With this enhanced interoperability, Lifesize is the only SaaS-based video conferencing provider to enable users to make direct calls to and from Skype for Business for one-to-one and group calls.
More than 100 million people are using Skype for Business worldwide. Yet, despite the popularity and regular use of Skype for Business, seamless integration between video conferencing solutions and Skype for Business remains limited.
For example, a product development team of four individuals gather in a small conference room in Austin. They connect via video conference to three marketing team members in San Francisco. A few minutes into the discussion, they realize they need input from a contractor based in London. They reach for their speakerphone to make the call, but stop – the contractor only uses Skype for Business and their system cannot call her. Now what?
Designed to complement the Skype for Business environment, Lifesize fits into the existing Skype for Business workflow by allowing Lifesize users to place direct calls to Skype for Business users, add them to existing calls, and send and receive screen sharing.
The integration also allows organizations to bring a Skype for Business presence into the conference room, with the Lifesize plug-and-play video conference room system. This gives users the option to connect to any third-party conference room system. IT administrators don’t need to worry about risking their investment with “lock-in” products for the conference room. In fact, Lifesize now helps IT administrators further extend their Skype for Business deployment throughout their organisation and increase the value of their investment.
“Skype for Business and other such applications allow organisations to standardise collaboration workflows,” said Craig Malloy, CEO at Lifesize. “For users in those organisations, the best conferencing solution should complement the way they work, not hinder it. The interoperability Lifesize offers extends far past any other solution in the market, providing the simplest, most effective collaboration experience between Lifesize, Skype for Business and third-party vendors.”
Designed to complement the Skype for Business environment, Lifesize fits into the existing Skype for Business workflow by allowing Lifesize users to place direct calls to Skype for Business users
