Microsoft has not yet released an official statement regarding the rebranding but the possibility of the switch was noted in the Microsoft tech Community discussion thread. Participants in the thread reported seeing an Outlook Message that stated: “Skype for Business is now Microsoft Teams!”. The conversation was cited by Microsoft reporter Mary Jo Foley, who initially speculated that Microsoft’s notice must have been a mistake. However, more information on the notice showed up in the Office 365 Message Center for some users, as noted by Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Tony Redmond.
The Notice in the Message center stated that “We’re upgrading Skype for Business to Microsoft Teams.” According to Redmond, that message was later removed from the Message Center, leaving the Microsoft Community wondering if Microsoft must have slipped up on the recent notice and early news.
This year Microsoft’s Ignite event will be held in Orlando on September 25th, it is expected that Microsoft will roll out the news on Skype for Business and the Microsoft Teams at the annual event. You can be a part of the conference online by signing up online.
The Microsoft Teams Client and Skype for Business both provide instant messaging, real-time presence, video call, voice call, group meetings and scheduled meetings. Skype for Business, unlike teams, Provides Broadcast meetings, PSTN conferencing and dialing, and video interoperability. Teams, on the other hand, provides threaded chat, a type of messaging format that helps keep track of your chats.
It seems Microsoft is already pushing Skype for Business usage out by adding some of its features to Microsoft Teams, so Skype for Business users will make the switch. As noted by Surur from Mspoweruser, Microsoft teams recently adopted the Skype for Business feature list and the ability to manage audio conferences for people attending via landline phones. Microsoft will most likely keep adding features to Microsoft teams if the ultimate plan is to give Skype for Business - the dead-end wall.