Microsoft Announces New Skype for Business Pricing Models

The 2017 pricing for Skype for Business was just updated, and if you are a small businesses you will have more options.

New Skype for Business Pricing Models

Two years have passed since the last update, and in that time Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) has introduced new services. These include Teams, Skype for Business Online and the transition to Office 365 as Microsoft moves to the cloud.

All of these services have affected the way Skype for Business is being used by companies.

Understanding the pricing and licensing models of ICT services can be complicated, to say the least. Chris Williams, at Lync Insider has mapped out a few examples to make the new pricing model easier to comprehend.

The examples outlined by Williams take into account 25 and 50 users with different product configurations.

Examples of New Skype for Business Pricing Models

The first scenario with an Office 365 account including Skype for Business Online is available as Office 365 Business Essentials at $5.00 per user per month, Office 365 Business Premium for $12.50 per user per month and Office 365 Enterprise E5 for $35.00 per user per month.

If you have 25 users in your business, the cost will total $125 per month for Essentials, $312.50 per month for Premium and $875 per month for the E5. Just double the amount for 50 users.

Another scenario takes into account the growth in collaboration in the workforce. It brings together Microsoft Teams and Skype for Business Online.

Using the Office Enterprise E1, E2, and E3 plans, you will pay $8.00, $20.00, and $35.00 per user per month respectively. And these packages will run you $200, $500, and $875 per month for 25 users, with double the amount for 50 users.

There are many small businesses with their own servers on premises and the price is still the same for Skype for Business Server 2015 (On-Premise). This includes one Front End Server License (MSRP), Standard User CALs, Enterprise User CALs (Conferencing and desktop sharing) and Plus User CALs (Voice and call management).

The cost for 25 users is $10,746.00 and for 50 users is $17,846.00, both with a 3-year license and support from Microsoft.

Williams warns businesses to confirm with Microsoft or IT partner before making a purchase. This is because there is a new version of Skype for Business Server coming, and the pricing may change in the coming months.

Image: Skype

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