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Lync Federation will continue as Windows Live Messenger transitions to Skype

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Beginning this month, Microsoft will start helping Windows Live Messenger (WLM) users move to Skype, en route to eventually retiring WLM. Lync customers who are using federation with WLM will be mostly uninterrupted by this change but should be aware of some of the specifics.

The movement of WLM users is enabled by the Skype 6.0 for Mac and Windows (released October 25, 2012) which allows signing in with a Microsoft Account (i.e., the same credentials as WLM). After simply signing in to Skype, WLM buddy lists automatically populate into Skype, and users can take advantage of Skype’s expanded communication capabilities such as calling landlines and mobiles, screen sharing, group video calling, and support for a wide variety of devices.

Lync will continue to support federation with WLM as long as WLM is in market. Moreover, WLM users’ federated Lync contacts will follow the transition into Skype with the rest of their buddy lists, and IM between Skype and Lync for these contacts will be available immediately. Lync customers do not need to do anything to enable this continuity of service. (Note: Adding new Lync federated contacts into Skype and calling between Skype and Lync are not yet available).

Visit the Skype Big Blog and Inside Windows Live blog for more information.

Comments

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    for me it works with Lync 2010 <> Sykpe 6 (logged on with WLM account) Maybe try latest Skype 6 (6.0.73.x) Version provided here: www.skype.com/.../windows-live-messenger

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    Lync Federation will continue as Windows Live Messenger transitions to Skype

  • Anonymous
    November 12, 2012
    is there any know ETA for "Adding new Lync federated contacts into Skype" ?

  • Anonymous
    November 12, 2012
    Will Lync 2010 receive update to work with Skype?

  • Anonymous
    November 12, 2012
    Lync 2010 already works with Skype (when already enabled to work with WLM)

  • Anonymous
    November 12, 2012
    After migrating some private family accounts to Skype 6, Lync federation was broken on all those accounts. The only way to communicate with those accounts is to launch the WLM application or using a WP7 phone with native WLM support (only IM is possible there).

  • Anonymous
    November 14, 2012
    Does this mean that Lync-Online will now be federated with Skype?

  • Anonymous
    January 03, 2013
    Anyone know when the limit "(Note: Adding new Lync federated contacts into Skype and calling between Skype and Lync are not yet available)." will be gone ? Cause due MS startup to inform users to change to Skype this will cause a big mess when they cannot add Lync contacts after they changed. I hope this limit will be fixed before Q2.

  • Anonymous
    January 17, 2013
    Hi there, I am using Lync in the office to chat with my sister who is on Messenger. Everything has been fine till recently. She received a notification to merge her Skype and Messenger accounts which she did. And now every time she messages me, I see what's she's typed out repeated on my Lync screen over and over again. Even worse the whole conversation pops up again and again every time I start my laptop and continues to pop up throughout the day even when she's not pinged me at all! Here's an example of how it looks like on my screen when she replies to me: Clara [09:23]: Did you just message me? Jaime [09:23]: Yes I wanted to tell you I just merged my msn and skype account Clara [09:23]: Why? Jaime [09:23]: Yes I wanted to tell you I just merged my msn and skype account Received a note to do this by Mar Have you done so? Clara [09:23]: No I use Lync Jaime [09:23]: Yes I wanted to tell you I just merged my msn and skype account Received a note to do this by Mar Have you done so? OK Chatting with her has become impossible. How can we fix this?

  • Anonymous
    January 20, 2013
    We are seeing the same 'messages doubled up' behaviour that Freon44 is seeing, is there any update on a fix or workaround for this?

  • Anonymous
    January 31, 2013
    This multiple IM issue has been fixed and will be deployed in production next week.

  • Anonymous
    February 07, 2013
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    May 07, 2013
    Does it Works with Skype client and OCS 2007 R2?

  • Anonymous
    October 25, 2013
    I have migrated from WLM to Skype and merge the two accounts. Everything worked fine, however yesterday my wife's Lync contact on my Skype list got dropped for some reasons and now neither of us are able to add each other. She uses Lync while I use Skype. When would addition of Lync federated contacts into Skype be possible? Also, is there a work around?

  • Anonymous
    March 20, 2014
    About Skype Skype is a global communication icon, THE brand name for internet calling. The Luxemburg

  • Anonymous
    March 20, 2014
    About Skype Skype is a global communication icon, THE brand name for internet calling. The Luxemburg

  • Anonymous
    December 04, 2015
    The comment has been removed