Today, we are providing an update on our product roadmap for Microsoft Skype for Business Server. Here’s what’s ahead:

We will release a Cumulative Update (CU)—CU8—for Skype for Business Server 2019 in H2 of 2024.
We will release Skype for Business Server Subscription Edition (SE) early in the third quarter of calendar year 2025.

Skype for Business Server SE, the next release of Microsoft Skype for Business Server, will be available for download from the Microsoft 365 admin center (previously the Microsoft Volume License Service Center) in early Q3 of 2025.

The licensing model for Skype for Business Server SE is the same as SharePoint Server Subscription Edition and Exchange Server Subscription Edition, which requires subscription licenses or licenses with active Software Assurance for server and user licenses.

The hardware, operating system, and other requirements for Skype for Business Server SE are the same as Skype for Business Server 2019.

Finally, Skype for Business Server SE will be supported under the modern lifecycle support policy.

Upcoming Changes in CU8

We’re adding Persistent Chat to Skype for Business Server 2019 in CU8 and completing our final phase of the Modern Admin Control Panel.

Persistent Chat

We are adding Persistent Chat (PChat) to Skype for Business Server 2019, which plays a pivotal role in promoting collaboration. PChat lets users create discussion rooms centered around specific topics, with those conversations persisted over time. Based on valuable feedback from our user community, we are providing an option to install PChat in our next CU.

Modern Admin Control Panel

We are also adding functionality to our new admin interface, the Modern Admin Control Panel (MACP), in our next CU.

This is the final phase for our updates to MACP. For information about previous phases, see Phase 1 (2019), Phase 2 (2020), and Phase 3 (2021).

This final phase includes:

IM & Presence: Dedicated tab for instant messaging and presence management.
Security: Centralizes security-related settings, allowing admins to configure access controls, authentication methods, and encryption protocols.
Monitoring & Archiving: Real-time monitoring and archiving capabilities to help admins keep track of system performance, user activity, and compliance requirements.
Network Configuration: Fine-tune network settings, optimize performance, troubleshoot issues, and ensure seamless connectivity.
Clients: Manage client applications, configure client policies, update versions, and address compatibility concerns.
Persistent Chat (PChat): Topic-based discussion rooms that persist over time.

Please start using the MACP today and share your feedback and questions using the ‘Give Feedback’ link.

Upgrading to Skype for Business Server SE from Previous Versions

To help accelerate the transition to Skype for Business Server SE, in addition to being code equivalent to Skype for Business Server 2019 CU8 (plus any subsequent Security Updates (SUs) or Hotfixes (HFs) to CU8), Skype for Business Server SE will support an in-place upgrade from Skype for Business Server 2019.

In-Place Upgrade

The fastest and easiest way to get to Skype for Business Server SE is to perform an in-place upgrade from Skype for Business Server 2019. The upgrade experience is identical to installing a CU. Once a server is running Skype for Business Server SE, it will be updated with our update cadence of periodic CUs and as-needed SUs and HFs.

Update Paths to Skype for Business Server SE

Below is a table that summarizes the available paths based on the version(s) you’re running:

Version in use

Upgrade Path

Skype for Business Server 2013

Upgrade to Skype for Business 2019 now, update to CU8 when available, and then upgrade in-place to Skype for Business Server SE when available.

Skype for Business Server 2015

Upgrade to Skype for Business 2019 now, update to CU8 when available, and upgrade in-place to Skype for Business Server SE when available.

Skype for Business Server 2019

Update to CU8 when available, and then upgrade in-place to Skype for Business Server SE when available.

Call to Action

Skype for Business Server SE will be available shortly before Skype for Business Server 2015 and Skype for Business Server 2019 both reach end of support on October 14, 2025. If you intend to continue to run Skype for Business Server on-premises, we recommend moving to Skype for Business Server 2019 with the latest update now, and upgrading to Skype for Business Server SE when it is available in 2025.

— Skype for Business Server Engineering Team

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