Video for Skype for Business

Microsoft tests and qualifies video teleconference systems (VTCs), and gateways for interoperability with Skype for Business through our Video Interoperability Program. Our Video Interoperability program tests:

  • Video endpoints for direct registration as an end point on Lync 2013 and Skype for Business Server 2015.
  • Video infrastructure for providing a gateway that allows legacy SIP and H.323 based VTCs to join scheduled Skype for Business meetings, and in some cases to conduct peer-to-peer calling with native Skype for Business endpoints.

Always check if your Skype for Business version was tested to interoperate with the video systems.

Video endpoints

The tables that follow describe the features available for the 3rd party VTC as certified for Skype for Business. Here, we compare the capabilities of the VTC in Skype for Business interop mode to the capabilities of Skype Room Systems (Native Meeting Room Devices).

General information

             Polycom RealPresence Group Series for Skype for Business Skype Room Systems (Native Meeting Room Devices)
Product type VTC Room System
Description 3rd party endpoint running non-Skype for Business media stack, interoperating with Skype for Business Purpose-build Windows UWP app, a native Skype for Business client for conference rooms (native Teams client coming soon)
Qualification date Jan 2019 December 2016 (first release)
Version Tested 6.2.0 3.0.16.0 (current)
Skype version supported Skype for Business Server 2015
Skype for Business Online
Skype for Business Server 2015
Skype for Business Online

Skype for Business Experience

             Polycom RealPresence Group Series for Skype for Business Skype Room Systems (Native Meeting Room Devices)
Skype for Business UI Partial *
Configuration Settings 3rd party
Single touch meeting join
Viewing shared files or content uploaded in Skype meeting
Sharing content in Skype for Business meeting
Viewing shared Desktop in Skype for Business meeting
Viewing PowerPoint application shared by Skype for Business **
Desktop Sharing from device in a Skype meeting
Sharing from device in P2P call **

* Skype for Business user experience with Group Series is limited to use of the Polycom RealPresence Touch Controller when Skype for Business mode is enabled. This experience is not present in the front of room view. Additionally, certain capabilities such as admitting attendees, locking spotlight, and promoting as presenter or demoting participants to attendee are not available on VTC.

** Desktop sharing using RDP from a device sends content as video over the people channel. Polycom support for VBSS is currently planned for certification.

Manageability

             Polycom RealPresence Group Series for Skype for Business Skype Room Systems (Native Meeting Room Devices)
OOB Experience 3rd party
Skype for Business in-band provisioning
Monitoring with OMS
In-band update
Management platform 3rd party Windows PC based (Group Policies, Configuration Manager, and others)

Interop with Skype for Business

             Polycom RealPresence Group Series for Skype for Business Skype Room Systems (Native Meeting Room Devices)
Searchable from Lync or Skype client
(with Exchange resource account)
Point-toPoint and PSTN calls
Video calls over UDP and TCP
(with Exchange resource account)
Presence (available, busy, offline)

Media quality with Skype for Business

             Polycom RealPresence Group Series for Skype for Business Skype Room Systems (Native Meeting Room Devices)
VBSS-based content sharing **
RDP-based content sharing
HD video (RTVideo - 720p)
HD Video (H.264 SVC – 1080p)
Audio (wideband, narrowband)
Firewall traversal
(same as Skype for Business client)
FEC (forward error correction)
(same as Skype for Business client)
Encryption Support (TLS and SRTP)
(same as Skype for Business client)

** Desktop sharing using RDP from a device sends content as video over the people channel. Polycom support for VBSS is currently planned for certification.

Other feature support with Skype for Business

             Polycom RealPresence Group Series for Skype for Business Skype Room Systems (Native Meeting Room Devices)
Web proxy support
(same as Skype for Business client)
Support for large meetings ( >75 users )
(same as Skype for Business client)

Video infrastructure

             Polycom RealConnect for Office 365 Pexip Infinity
Qualification Date April 2017 July 2017
Version Tested N/A for Service 1 V15.1
Skype version supported Online (Office 365) On-premise (Skype for Business Server 2015)
Product Type Service Server
Description Gateway Gateway
Searchable from Lync Client No 2 No
Join Skype Online Supported mMeeting types Online Onprem
Point-to-Point Calls No 2 Yes
VBSS based content sharing Yes No 3
RDP based content sharing Yes Yes
HD Video (RTVideo – 720p) Yes Yes
HD Video (H.264 SVC – 1080p) Yes Yes
Panoramic video Yes No
Audio (wideband, narrowband) Yes Yes
Presence (available, busy, offline) No 2 Yes
Firewall Traversal N/A for Online meeting interop Yes
FEC (forward error correction) Yes Yes
Encryption Support (TLS and SRTP) Yes Yes
H.323 Signaling Yes Yes
SIP Signaling Yes Yes
  1. Cloud service based video interop solutions are updated frequently and don't have set version numbers. Instead of testing a specific version, cloud services have implemented real time telemetry and have live-site support process coordination with Microsoft.
  2. Features supported for Online differ from those supported for On-premise. Video interop is focused on meeting join, and does not require VTCs to be authenticated or in any way registered to the service, as long as the meeting organizer is licensed for the service. For this reason, point-to-point calling and presence status for VTCs is not supported for online video interop.
  3. Pexip support for VBSS is currently in tech preview state.

If you are a vendor seeking to join the certification program, see How to Join for requirements and available programs.