Enhanced Communications: Skype for Business to Offer Phone Numbers and Improved Functionality for Office 365 Users

In a notable development this week, tech powerhouse Microsoft introduced previews of Office 2016 for Windows and their popular communication platform, Skype for Business. Microsoft is not stopping just there. The company revealed its ambitious plans for the upcoming year, centered around the concepts of enterprise voice and innovative meetings devices.

Skype for Business, owned by Microsoft, will provide Office 365 users their own phone numbers. It will also offer enterprise voice in Office 365 with Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) calling and conferencing capabilities. The enhanced functions are scheduled to be available for a technical preview in the U.S. during the summer season.

The introduction of these audio features signifies that Office 365 users will be able to utilize Skype for every kind of conversation – be it written, audio, or video. “The Office 365 Skype for Business voice and video services are based on an intelligent real-time network, stretching across Microsoft’s global data centers, to deliver secure, high-quality voice and video traffic at light speed across the globe,” as articulated by Microsoft.

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In broader terms, Microsoft aims to boost the utility of its cloud offerings with the inclusion of real-time communications. Skype for Business will be accessible via Microsoft’s Office 365 data centers, distributed across 37 countries. A combination of cloud-based and on-premises options will be provided for enterprises. This allows organizations to tap into Microsoft’s cloud when required without forsaking what they presently manage on-premises.

For the successful execution of this ambitious plan, Microsoft has forged partnerships with leading telecommunications and networking companies, including AT&T, BT, Colt, Equinix, Level3 Communications, Orange Business Services, TATA Communications, Telstra, Verizon, and Vodafone. These strategic partnerships aim to assist Skype for Business users by providing direct connections to Office 365 through Azure ExpressRoute.

Microsoft isn’t just pulling all the stops at communication and cloud services. It also plans to drive its meeting device portfolio, codenamed Skype Room Systems. These devices, designed exclusively for Skype for Business, are upgradable from existing Lync Rooms Systems devices. This initiative will widen Skype for Business’ reach to a larger business market, which Microsoft expects to penetrate more than 50 million meeting spaces worldwide.

For more in-depth information, visit Venture Beat’s in-depth coverage of this announcement.

This article was updated in 2025 to reflect modern realities.

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