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Skype for Business: Chat with audio

Skype for Business can be used for audio and video calling, as well as chat.

You must have a microphone and speakers to use the audio chat feature.  The mic and speakers can be:

  • laptop internal mic and speakers
  • headset with mic
  • external webcam with mic and laptop internal speakers
  • external mic and speakers connected via USB or mic/speaker jacks

 

Note: Phone integration is available through the Intercall conference phone system. Contact Frontline to get an Intercall number (after first getting approval from your manager).

Set up & test your audio connections

It's a good idea to set up and test your audio connections each day.  Definitely check your settings before a meeting, if you haven't already used the audio that day.

 

To set up your audio connections.

  1. Plug in your microphone and speakers.
  2. Open Skype.
  3. Click Tools, then Audio Device Settings.
  4. Select your speakers from the Speaker drop-down menu.
  5. Click the play button to verify your speakers are working.
  6. Select your microphone from the Microphone drop-down menu.
  7. Make some noise.  There should be a moving blue bar in the box below the drop-down, indicating the microphone is picking up audio.
  8. When you are satisfied with the setup, click OK.

Make a call

Once your audio is set up, there are a number of ways to call someone.

Contact List:

  1. Find the person you want to call in your contact list.
  2. Right click their name.
  3. Click Call/Skype for Business.

OR

  1. Find the person you want to call in your contact list.
  2. Hover over their picture.
  3. Click the Phone icon. 

 

Meet Now:

  1. Click the Meet Now button at the top of the page. This will launch a meeting space.
  2. Click the Invite icon in the upper right.
  3. Enter the name or phone number of the person you want to call.
  4. Click OK.

 

From a chat:

If you are already chatting with someone, click the Phone icon to call them.

 

Note: Phone integration is available through the Intercall conference phone system. Contact Frontline to get an Intercall number (after first getting approval from your manager).

Group calls

As with chat, you can call multiple people at once.

  1. Hold down the CTRL key on your keyboard and select everyone you want in the call.
  2. Right-click.
  3. Select Start a Conference Call.

OR

  1. Start a call with one person.
  2. Click the Invite More People icon in the upper right. 
  3. Select contacts to add or use the search box to find anyone in Walden.

 

Note: Phone integration is available through the Intercall conference phone system. Contact Frontline to get an Intercall number (after first getting approval from your manager).

Call features

Skype for Business uses the same window interface for chat, phone calls, and video calls.  You can easily move back and forth between these features.

You can also share your screen or a program within the call window.

You need to be the presenter to share your desktop or program.