--- schema_type: "SoftwareApplication" entity_type: "Mobile Application" app_name: "Skype for Business" developer_entity: "Microsoft Corporation" bundle_id: "com.microsoft.lync2013.iphone" app_store_id: "605841731" google_play_id: "com.microsoft.office.lync15" category: "Business" primary_platform: "ios" primary_monetization: "Freemium" offline_capable: false market_region: "US" platforms: "iOS & Android" app_last_updated: "2025-11-14" report_date: "2026-05-05" report_version: "6.34.119" total_reviews: 190215 overall_rating: 3.81 sentiment: "Mixed" sentiment_score: 45 confidence: "high" confidence_score: 0.85 top_praise_theme: "Legacy users appreciate the continued functionality of the application despite the official retirement of the service" top_complaint_theme: "Frequent authentication failures and sign-in errors prevent users from accessing their accounts and business meetings" top_request_theme: "Persistent chat functionality requested to improve communication continuity across mobile and desktop platforms" review_sample_size: 112 total_review_count: 112 analyzed_review_count: 100 data_age_days: 12 momentum_velocity: "maintenance" intelligence_version: 4 nemesis: "Zoom Workplace" competitor_count: 7 tags: ["business", "freemium", "mixed sentiment", "mobile app", "app review", "app analysis", "enterprise", "employees", "corporate"] canonical_url: "https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/business/skype-for-business" license: "CC-BY-NC 4.0" content_version: "v2" last_verified: "2026-05-05T17:21:09.274Z" --- # Skype for Business App Audit ## TL;DR {#tldr} - **Category**: Business · Freemium - **Signal**: Rating 3.81 · Sentiment Mixed - **Recent focus**: Frequent authentication failures and sign-in errors prevent users from accessing their accounts and business meetings (top complaint) · Legacy users appreciate the continued functionality of the application despite the official retirement of the service (top praise) · Persistent chat functionality requested to improve communication continuity across mobile and desktop platforms (top request) > **TL;DR:** Skype for Business is a business app by Microsoft Corporation, rated 3.81/5 by 190.2K users, with Mixed user sentiment (45/100), available on iOS & Android. > > **Marlvel.ai App Intelligence** — Independent analysis. US Market. No publisher influence. > **Key Insight:** Skype for Business shows Mixed sentiment (3.81/5 from 190.2K reviews) — users praise legacy users appreciate the continued functionality of the application despite the official retirement of the service but report issues with frequent authentication failures and sign-in errors prevent users from accessing their accounts and business meetings. ## Quick Facts | Fact | Value | | :--- | :--- | | **Rating** | 3.81/5 (190.2K reviews) | | **User Mood** | Mixed | | **Category** | Business | | **Developer** | Microsoft Corporation | | **Pricing** | Freemium | | **Platforms** | iOS & Android | | **Confidence** | High (0.85/1.0) | | **Data Age** | 0d | ## Metadata & Market Performance - **Publisher:** Microsoft Corporation - **Category:** Business - **Target Audience:** Enterprise employees and corporate users who require secure, integrated communication tools within a Microsoft-managed environment. - **Platforms:** iOS & Android - **Version Audited:** 6.34.119 - **Audit Date:** 2026-05-05 - **Signal Count:** 112 reviews analyzed - **Confidence:** High (0.85/1.0) - **App Store ID (iOS):** 605841731 - **Bundle ID:** com.microsoft.lync2013.iphone - **Google Play ID:** com.microsoft.office.lync15 - **Performance Trend:** Declining - **Data Window:** Analysis based on signals collected up to 2026-05-05 - **Short Description:** Skype for Business extends the power of Lync and Skype to your mobile device ## Executive Snapshot **What it is:** Skype for Business is an enterprise communication client for Android and iOS that provides voice, video, and messaging for Microsoft-licensed environments. **Why users hire it:** Users hire this app to maintain secure, authenticated access to corporate Lync or Skype for Business server meetings, serving as a mandatory gate for enterprise communication workflows. ## App DNA (Features & Intent) - **[Standard] Unified Communications:** Integrates voice, video, and instant messaging into a single interface for enterprise users * *User Intent:* Users want real-time communication within the app experience. - **[Differentiator] Active Directory Authentication:** Secures mobile access via Active Directory Authentication Library (ADAL) integration * *User Intent:* Users prioritize data protection and trust in the platform. ## Market Position {#market-position} The app maintains a 3.76 rating on Android with over 173,000 reviews, reflecting a large legacy install base that is currently stagnant. The lack of recent feature updates compared to competitors signals a transition into a maintenance-only lifecycle. ## Monetization Strategy - **Model:** Freemium - **Tiers:** Free app download, Requires validly licensed Microsoft Lync or Skype for Business Server or Office 365 - **Analysis:** The app functions as a free client for a mandatory paid enterprise server or cloud subscription, acting as a B2B distribution tool. ## 🟡 User Sentiment (High Confidence: 100 of 112 reviews analyzed) {#user-sentiment} - **Overall Rating:** 3.81/5 - **Platform Split:** iOS 4.3/5 (16.3K ratings) | Android 3.8/5 (174K ratings) - **Overall Sentiment:** Mixed ### Top Praises - **Legacy users appreciate the continued functionality of the application despite the official retirement of the service** ### Top Complaints (Impact Areas) - **Frequent authentication failures and sign-in errors prevent users from accessing their accounts and business meetings** ### Top Requests (What Users Want) - **Persistent chat functionality requested to improve communication continuity across mobile and desktop platforms** ## SWOT Analysis {#swot} **Core Strengths:** - Active Directory Authentication ensures mandatory adoption within corporate IT security policies - Unified communication interface provides a single-pane-of-glass for legacy enterprise workflows **Critical Frictions:** - Frequent authentication failures block access for professional users - Intrusive permission requests create friction during initial setup - Broken push notifications cause missed messages and delayed communication **Growth Levers:** - Persistent chat integration could improve continuity for mobile-first users - Simplified guest-access workflows would reduce friction for external participants **Market Threats:** - Zoom's 10-update release cadence erodes the target app's platform stability advantage - Google Meet's browser-first architecture eliminates client-side installation friction ## Recent Changes (v3 → v4) {#recent-changes} The application has entered a maintenance-only lifecycle with a reduced feature set, declining ratings, and a shift toward a freemium client model. **Overall trend**: Declining **Compared at**: 2026-05-05 ### High-impact changes - **[Removed] Feature Set Pruning** (features) — Removed Meeting Management, Content Sharing, and One-Click Meeting Join from the core feature list, leaving only Unified Communications and AD Authentication. - **[Declined] Rating and Sentiment Shift** (sentiment) — Rating decreased from 4.05 to 3.76, with sentiment shifting from negative to mixed. ### Medium-impact changes - **[Shifted] Pricing Model Reclassification** (pricing) — Model shifted from subscription to freemium, explicitly defining the app as a free client for mandatory paid enterprise server infrastructure. - **[Added] New Weakness: Notification Failures** (swot) — Added broken push notifications as a primary weakness causing missed messages. ## Rivals Landscape {#rivals} > Competitive positioning identified by AI analysis of app features, category, and market signals. ### Skype for Business vs Zoom Workplace — Head to Head - **[Zoom Workplace](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/business/us-zoom-videomeetings)** by Zoom Communications, Inc.: Zoom dominates the enterprise video conferencing space with a massive, active user base and a release cadence that dwarfs the target app. - **Moat strength:** High — sustainable advantage over 12 months - **Key differences:** - Offers a unified platform integrating phone, chat, and whiteboard into one seamless meeting experience - Maintains a high-velocity release cycle with 10 updates in six months to ensure platform stability - Provides deep ecosystem integrations with third-party productivity tools that the target app lacks - **Where Skype for Business wins:** - ✅ Deep integration with the Microsoft 365 ecosystem provides seamless authentication and document access for existing users - **Where Zoom Workplace wins:** - ❌ Superior cross-platform performance and reliability during high-bandwidth video conferencing sessions compared to legacy Lync-based architectures - ❌ Intuitive guest-access workflows allow external participants to join meetings without complex account authentication requirements - **Verdict:** The target app must prioritize modernizing its core video engine and simplifying guest access to prevent further user migration to Zoom's more agile platform. ### Contenders (Strong Challengers) - **[Webex](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/business/com-cisco-squared)** by Cisco [Moat: Medium]: Webex provides a robust, enterprise-grade alternative with a strong focus on secure, large-scale virtual collaboration. - Features advanced noise cancellation and real-time translation capabilities that enhance meeting accessibility for global teams - Delivers a consistent, secure collaboration environment specifically designed for regulated industries and large-scale enterprise deployments - **[Google Meet](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/social-networking/google-meet)** by Google [Moat: High]: Google Meet leverages massive distribution and browser-based accessibility to capture the casual and SMB meeting market. - Browser-first architecture eliminates the need for client-side software installation, drastically reducing friction for new meeting participants - Deep integration with Google Workspace allows for one-click meeting scheduling directly from calendar and email interfaces - **[Slack](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/business/com-tinyspeck-chatlyio)** by Slack Technologies, Inc. [Moat: High]: Slack has redefined team communication by shifting the focus from scheduled meetings to persistent, channel-based collaboration. - Channel-based messaging architecture reduces email clutter and provides a searchable history of team decisions - Extensive app directory allows teams to build custom workflows directly into their communication hub ### Peers (What They Do Better) - **[GoTo](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/business/com-logmein-gotoconnect)** by GoTo Group, Inc.: GoTo offers a comprehensive suite combining VoIP and video conferencing for small to mid-sized businesses. - Bundles cloud-based phone systems with video conferencing to provide a single-vendor solution for SMB communication - Focuses on simplified administrative controls that allow non-technical teams to manage their own communication infrastructure - **[Dialpad](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/business/dialpad)** by Dialpad, Inc.: Dialpad differentiates through AI-driven insights applied to voice and video communication workflows. - Integrates real-time AI transcription and sentiment analysis to provide actionable insights during live business calls - Prioritizes a mobile-first design that ensures high-quality voice connectivity even in low-bandwidth network environments ### New Kids on the Block (What's Innovative) - **[Troop Messenger - Team Chat](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/business/troop-messenger-team-chat)** by tvisha: An emerging challenger focusing on secure, private team communication with a high release frequency. ## What's New - **Latest (v6.23.0, 7 years ago):** General bug fixes and performance improvements. ## App Momentum (Maintenance) {#momentum} - Ships only bug fixes and improvements. - No new features in recent releases. > **Cadence:** 5 total versions · 0 majors in last 6 months · 172 days since last update · 156 days avg between updates ## The "So What?" (Strategic Takeaway) {#so-what} Skype for Business is an established business app that is free with in-app purchases. With a 3.81/5 rating from 190.2K reviews, it shows polarized user reception. > **Bottom Line:** The app retains value through deep enterprise authentication, but the high frequency of sign-in errors and notification failures threatens its remaining professional user base, so the team must prioritize core connectivity stability over feature expansion to prevent further migration to Zoom. **Best for:** Enterprise employees and corporate users who require secure, integrated communication tools within a Microsoft-managed environment. ### PM Action Plan (Next Best Moves) - [ ] [PIVOT] [HIGH IMPACT] Audit authentication flow because sign-in errors are the top complaint → reduce churn among professional users — *Sentiment analysis identifies authentication failures as the primary barrier to accessing business meetings.* _(trade-off: deprioritize Pause the persistent chat development — authentication stability has a higher impact on daily active usage.)_ - [ ] [INVEST] [HIGH IMPACT] Rebuild notification service because background sync failures are a top complaint → improve communication reliability — *Users report that notifications fail to arrive unless the device is unlocked, causing missed messages.* _(trade-off: deprioritize Deprioritize UI polish on the contact search screen — notification reliability is critical for business utility.)_ ### Feature Gaps vs Competitors - Real-time noise cancellation (available in Webex) - Browser-first meeting access (available in Google Meet) - Persistent chat history (available in Slack) ### Outlook: Declining The enterprise communication market is consolidating around cloud-native platforms that prioritize browser-based access and high-velocity feature updates. Skype for Business remains exposed due to its legacy server dependency and maintenance-mode status, so the team must stabilize core authentication to prevent total churn to more agile competitors. - 🔴 Frequent authentication failures and sync issues in the latest release erode the daily active habit, compounding the rating drag on Android. - 🔴 The lack of feature updates compared to Zoom's high-velocity release cycle accelerates the migration of professional users to more agile platforms. ## Key Metrics Summary | Metric | Value | | :--- | :--- | | Overall Rating | 3.81/5 | | Total Reviews | 190.2K | | Sentiment | Mixed (45/100) | | Confidence | High | | Pricing Model | Freemium | | Platforms | iOS & Android | | Key Features | 2 analyzed | | Trend | Declining | | Outlook | Declining | ## Competitor Comparison | App | Rating | Sentiment | Developer | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Skype for Business** (this app) | 3.81/5 | Mixed | Microsoft Corporation | | [Zoom Workplace](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/business/us-zoom-videomeetings) | 4.7/5 | Excited | Zoom Communications, Inc. | | [Slack](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/business/com-tinyspeck-chatlyio) | 4.6/5 | Mixed | Slack Technologies, Inc. | | [Webex](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/business/com-cisco-squared) | 4.6/5 | Excited | Cisco | | [GoTo](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/business/com-logmein-gotoconnect) | 4.8/5 | N/A | GoTo Group, Inc. | | [Google Meet](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/social-networking/google-meet) | 4.8/5 | Mixed | Google | ## Company Profile - **Developer:** Microsoft Corporation - **Website:** [https://www.microsoft.com/lync](https://www.microsoft.com/lync) ## Data Sources & Links - **App Store:** [View on Apple Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/skype-for-business/id605841731?uo=4) - **Google Play:** [View on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.office.lync15&hl=en&gl=us) - **Dev Site:** [Official Website](https://www.microsoft.com/lync) - **Sources:** Developer website content, About us / company information, App store metadata, User reviews. ## Related Intel Reports - [*Zoom Workplace*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/business/us-zoom-videomeetings) (Zoom Communications, Inc.) — 4.7/5 Rating | Positive Sentiment - [*Slack*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/business/com-tinyspeck-chatlyio) (Slack Technologies, Inc.) — 4.6/5 Rating | Mixed Sentiment - [*Webex*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/business/com-cisco-squared) (Cisco) — 4.6/5 Rating | Positive Sentiment - [*GoTo*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/business/com-logmein-gotoconnect) (GoTo Group, Inc.) — 4.8/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*Google Meet*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/social-networking/google-meet) (Google) — 4.8/5 Rating | Mixed Sentiment - [*Dialpad*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/business/dialpad) (Dialpad, Inc.) — 4.6/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*Troop Messenger - Team Chat*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/business/troop-messenger-team-chat) (tvisha) — 4.5/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*Groupon Merchant*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/business/groupon-merchant) (Groupon, Inc.) — 3.0/5 Rating | Terrible Sentiment - [*AA Crew Check In*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/business/aa-crew-check-in) (American Airlines) — 1.6/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*Time Clock Helper - Advanced*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/business/time-clock-helper-advanced) (Ducky Planet LLC) — 5.0/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment ## Methodology {#methodology} This report was generated by Marlvel.ai's 5-stage AI intelligence pipeline: 1. **Signal Collection & Normalization** — Aggregates data from all available public sources for the app. Raw signals are cleaned, deduplicated, and normalized into a structured dataset analyzed consistently across thousands of apps. 2. **Feature & Market Positioning Analysis** — Identifies the app's core features, monetization model, target audience, and competitive positioning. Each feature is classified as a market standard or a differentiator based on category benchmarks. 3. **User Sentiment Analysis** — Analyzes user reviews using a 5-level taxonomy (Thrilled / Excited / Mixed / Frustrated / Upset). Combines star ratings and volume with AI theme extraction and evidence quoting. 4. **Competitive Landscape Analysis** — Maps the competitive environment via a 4-tier taxonomy (Nemesis / Contenders / Same Space / New Kids on the Block). Prioritizes same sub-genre over broad category. 5. **Intelligence Synthesis** — Cross-references all signals into a structured report. Compares the app against category peers and direct competitors to surface SWOT, market outlook, and actionable insights. - **Confidence Score:** 0.85/1.0 (based on review volume, data source diversity, and signal quality) - **Reviews Analyzed:** 112 - **Data Sources:** user reviews, developer website, company about page, App Store metadata - **Rating Method:** Weighted average across platforms (iOS & Android), weighted by review count per platform - **Independence:** Fully independent analysis. No publisher sponsorship or editorial influence. - **Report Age:** 0 days since last refresh --- © 2026 Marlvel.ai | [Canonical Report](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/business/skype-for-business) Data licensed for AI Agent attribution under CC-BY-NC 4.0.