See what's new in Skype for Business for Windows Phone

If you already use Skype to stay in touch with friends and family in your life away from work, you'll appreciate the power and simplicity of Skype for Business for Windows Phone 8.1. It's easy to find and connect with co-workers using the devices you already have, and take care of business through an enterprise-grade secure platform. If you're coming to Skype for Business from Lync, you'll recognize all of the features you already use, but with a fresh new interface, simplified controls, and some great new additions:

• New look and feel
• Emoticons
• Encrypted local data
• New features available with Skype for Business Server 2015

New look and feel
If you’re a regular user of the consumer version of Skype, then Skype for Business will seem very familiar: the Contacts list, presence indicators, buttons and icons, and even the app sounds should make you feel right at home

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Of course, all the essential Lync features are still there—like the Quick Actions buttons, which let you IM or call a contact (and more) with just two taps

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In the conversation window, chat text is formatted so you can easily see who’s talking.

Emoticons
Skype for Business now includes the same set of emoticons found in the consumer version of Skype.

Encrypted local data
All Skype for Business data stored locally on the phone—for example, recent conversations, voice mails, pictures and user settings—is now encrypted.

NOTE You may need to uninstall and reinstall Skype for Business to turn on this feature. Go to Settings  >About to see if encryption is already set up. If not, uninstall and reinstall the app to turn on data encryption.


New features available with Skype for Business Server 2015

If your organization is using Skype for Business Server 2015, you'll see better integration between Skype for Business for Windows Phone and your other devices, and the ability to communicate with users of the commercial version of Skype.

• Windows phone conversation sync Your recent conversations are now automatically synchronized across devices. You can see all your conversations, regardless of whether they took place on your desktop or mobile device. This allows you to continue a recent conversation or respond to missed IMs—wherever you are.
• Improved IM reliability When you receive an IM on your mobile device, it's automatically accepted even if you miss the alert.
• Communicate with Skype contacts If you have Skype users in your contact list, you can communicate with them via IM, audio call, or video call.

From office.com

June 2015 cumulative update 6.0.9319.45 for Skype for Business Server 2015

June 2015 cumulative update 6.0.9319.45 for Skype for Business Server 2015 (Front End server and Edge server)

This cumulative update resolves a list of issues in Microsoft Skype for Business Server 2015 (Front End server and Edge server). The version number of this update is 6.0.9319.45.


The cumulative update resolves the following issues:

• KB 3069206 Exchange UM Auto Attendant can't transfer call to phone/extension number in Skype for Business Server 2015 environment
• KB 3068921 RTCHost.exe process persistently consumes many CPU resources on a Skype for Business Server 2015 Front End server
• KB 3068926 Default presence configuration parameter is incorrect on a Skype for Business Server 2015 server

More @ KB3061059

Microsoft "modern" Skype client to be discontinued

A More Efficient Skype Experience for Your PC

At Skype we want to help you do more together with the people you care about by delivering the best possible experiences to the devices you use. That’s why we’re simplifying your PC experience down to one app that you can use either with your mouse and keyboard or with touch. Starting on July 7, we’re updating PC users of the Windows modern application to the Windows desktop application, and retiring the modern application.

Windows modern application

Windows desktop application

With the upcoming release of Windows 10 for PCs, it makes sense to use the Skype application optimized for mouse and keyboards use, capable of doing touch as well rather than 2 separate applications performing the same function.

You told us that Skype for Windows desktop:
Helps you efficiently navigate – it presents all information in one window – including notifications, multiple conversations and a full contact list – so you don’t have to scroll back and forth.
Comes with great features that help you get more done- like group video calling, sharing your screen for showing directions or working together on a document and soon translation.

You can get the desktop application today by downloading it here. Anyone trying to access the modern application on PCs starting from July 7 forward will be automatically directed to download the desktop application. Then, you can simply log in using your Skype username and password, or your Microsoft Account credentials. If you’ve forgotten them, you can retrieve them here. All of your contacts and conversations from last 30 days will be available. If you already have Skype for Windows desktop you don’t need to do anything. Also, if you’re on a Windows RT tablet device, there is no change for you.

You may be thinking: what about Skype built into Messaging, Phone and Skype video coming to Windows 10? Don’t worry we will begin rolling out the apps to get your feedback later this year. This way if you want to quickly make a call or send a message you can use task based apps and for those of you power users who like the advantages of the all in one app, you can pick what’s right for you.

If you need help or for more information, visit the Skype Support or Community sites.

From @ Skype Blog

I guess we won't see the Video integration coming to the modern skype anymore. Let's hope it comes to the mobile soon.