Improvements in the interoperability between Skype for Business 2016 and Teams

Summary

This update includes the following “Better Together” interoperability improvements between Microsoft Skype for Business 2016 and Microsoft Teams on Windows (full clients).

• Automatic hold 
  
  This capability has been broadly available since mid-2018. It ensures that only one call (or one meeting that has a call) can be active at any time between the two clients. If one client is active in a call (or meeting that has a call) and the other client becomes active in a call (or meeting that has a call), the first call automatically goes on hold. If the first call is resumed, the second call automatically goes on hold, and so on. There is no automatic disengagement from on-hold status. In this release, there is no change in the feature itself. However, this capability can now coordinate with the other “Better Together” capabilities, as applicable.
  

• Presence reconciliation 
  
  A user’s presence is published to both Skype for Business and Teams users as their Skype for Business presence when the user is in one of the following upgrade modes:

  • SfBOnly

  • SfBWithTeamsCollab

  • SfBWithTeamsCollabAndMeetings (also known as Meetings First)

  This is aligned with ability to reach the user by using chat or a telephone call. However that user can participate in Teams meetings, and, if appropriate, the user can present in a Teams meeting. This “Better Together” capability ensures that their Skype for Business presence reflects when they are in a Teams meeting, or when they are presenting in a Teams meeting, triggering “In a call” and “Do Not Disturb” presence state as applicable.

• HID reconciliation for approved USB devices
  
  This “Better Together” capability ensures that a user can use the HID capabilities (mute/unmute, volume up/down, hookflash buttons) of their USB device when the user is in one of the following upgrade modes:

  • SfBOnly

  • SfBWithTeamsCollab

  • SfBWithTeamsCollabAndMeetings (also known as Meetings First)

  This is true regardless of whether the user is in a Skype for Business call (or meeting that has a call) or in a Teams meeting.
  

These capabilities are available according to the following table.

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By default, these capabilities are enabled according to this table. In some rare cases in which Microsoft ECS settings are blocked for Skype for Business Server customers, it may be necessary to set these capabilities server-side. For additional guidance please contact Microsoft Support.

How to get this update

To fix this issue, install the June 4, 2019, update (KB4464576) for Microsoft Skype for Business 2016.