{"id":4149,"date":"2015-07-14T10:00:18","date_gmt":"2015-07-14T07:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/trueconf.com/blog\/?p=4149"},"modified":"2025-11-25T14:22:16","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T11:22:16","slug":"trueconf-vs-microsoft-lync-server-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trueconf.com/blog\/knowledge-base\/trueconf-vs-microsoft-lync-server-2013","title":{"rendered":"TrueConf vs Microsoft Lync Server 2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

Upon numerous requests from our customers, we have compared TrueConf Server video conferencing server to Microsoft Lync Server 2013 (Skype for Business since 2015).<\/p>\n

Lync (Skype for Business) in Brief<\/h2>\n

Microsoft Lync Server 2013<\/strong> is a UC product integrating A\/V, instant messaging and collaboration tools. All Lync client applications and infrastructure have been rebranded to Skype for Business in 2015.<\/p>\n

The Difference Between Skype for Business and Skype<\/h3>\n

Despite the fact that both Skype for Business and Skype are Microsoft\u2019s products, they are positioned differently.<\/p>\n

Skype is a free cloud solution most often used for personal communions.<\/p>\n

Skype for Business is an enterprise on-premises paid communication solution and is subject to specific license agreements.<\/p>\n

In 2013, Microsoft announced the Skype for Business-Skype integration, thus allowing users to seamlessly hold video meetings and exchange messages between Skype and Skype for Business. This was a real breakthrough, since Skype had a history of not being integrated with any major video conferencing solution on purpose. The ability to integrate third-party VoIP services or a PBX through SIP with Skype was removed by Microsoft after acquiring Skype.<\/p>\n

Comparison of Skype for Business and TrueConf<\/h3>\n

Both solutions are unified communications enterprise platforms with enhanced collaboration capabilities.<\/p>\n

However, Skype for Business is primarily a corporate chat and an audio conferencing tool while TrueConf Server is designed for multipoint video conferencing. It explains why TrueConf Server provides much better video quality than Skype for Business. Let’s elaborate on these issues.<\/p>\n

Client Applications<\/h3>\n

Comparative table of available client applications<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n
PC<\/strong><\/center><\/td>\n
Hand-held Devices<\/strong><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Solution<\/strong><\/td>\nWindows<\/td>\nOS X<\/td>\nLinux<\/td>\niOS<\/td>\nAndroid<\/td>\nWindows Phone<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Skype for Business<\/td>\n\"v\"<\/td>\n\"v\"<\/td>\n\"x\"<\/td>\n\"v\"<\/td>\n\"v\"<\/td>\n\"v\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
TrueConf<\/td>\n\"v\"<\/td>\n\"v\"<\/td>\n\"v\"<\/td>\n\"v\"<\/td>\n\"v\"<\/td>\n\"x\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

It may seem at the first sight that we are equal in these terms, but in fact the number of enterprise Linux users is much larger than the number of personal devices running Windows Phone.<\/p>\n

Pricing<\/h3>\n

Skype for Business<\/b><\/p>\n

All client applications are paid and require licensing that does not extend to capabilities activated by separate CAL (Client Access License) server licensing.<\/p>\n

\"Client<\/p>\n

There three types of CAL licenses ranging from $31 to $123. Each license provides certain capabilities while video communications require purchasing two of these and the integration with corporate telephony requires purchasing all three licenses. Yes, you heard it right, you cannot purchase separately the necessary CAL license, you must buy all intermediate licenses at once.<\/p>\n

Therefore, you will need 2 to 4 licenses for each PC user, with one license for the software itself and more 1 to 3 licenses for the capabilities provided by the client application for Skype for Business Server.<\/p>\n

Note that Skype for Business mobile applications are free, but still require CAL licensing.<\/p>\n

Even if you purchase all required licenses, there still remains one significant limitation on using the license – it is either intended for a particular device or for a particular user. This implies that you either pay for PCs and mobile devices that are unused and not connected to Skype for Business Server at the moment or you pay for offline users. You cannot enjoy the flexibility video conferencing specialists are used to when counting available ports on the MCU.<\/p>\n

A fully functional trial version of the software is available for users for 180 days, which is pretty good.<\/p>\n

TrueConf<\/b><\/p>\n

An archive with server contains free client applications that do not require licensing.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

They are available on the server\u2019s Guest page. The guest page is convenient as a user can select the application for his OS. The downloaded and installed client application connects automatically to the local TrueConf Server.<\/p>\n

For those who would like to test client applications and the capabilities of TrueConf Server, a full-featured free version TrueConf Server Free is available, with unlimited terms. It will only take you 15 minutes to deploy it on your corporate network, which is quite impressive.<\/p>\n

Multipoint conferences<\/h3>\n

Skype for Business<\/b><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The capabilities of Skype for Business multipoint conferencing are limited. You must purchase two types of licenses at once to activate the video conferencing feature – Skype for Business Standard CAL and Skype for Business Enterprise CAL. If purchasing only one of these, you won’t get all capabilities you require for fully functional video conferences. The maximum number of users simultaneously displayed on the screen is 5. The layout is fixed: the video windows are arranged in one row. Switching to full screen won’t change anything, so Skype for Business video conferences are not suitable for use in meeting rooms and on large displays.<\/p>\n

Therefore, to hold full-featured conferences, you need to buy an MCU compatible with Skype for Business or integrate your Skype for Business with a cloud video conferencing service that will mix video for Skype for Business multipoint conferences, resulting in the increased cost of the implementation of such a project.<\/p>\n

TrueConf<\/b><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Several modes of multipoint UltraHD video conferencing are available to TrueConf users:<\/p>\n