Instant Messaging
Instant messaging in Skype for Business makes quick conversations easy by allowing you to see a person or group's availability first. If conversations become more complex, you can easily add in voice or video.
Send an instant message
- Locate the person you want to send an instant message to by finding their contact in Search or your Contacts list. Do one of the following.
- Hover over their presence icon (square with color) in the Contacts list or search results and click the IM button in the shortcut menu. [view screenshot]
- Double-click anywhere on their contact listing.
- Right-click their listing and select Send an IM.
- Type your message at bottom of the conversation window. [view screenshot]
- Press Enter or Return on your keyboard or select the Send button
to send the message.
Answer an instant message
- Click anywhere on the blue area of the IM request pane. [view screenshot]
- Type a response in the bottom of the conversation window. [view screenshot]
- Press Enter or Return on your keyboard or select the Send button
Share a file or image
To send a file or image, do one of the following:
- Drag-and-drop a saved file into the text input area of an instant message. Then, hit Enter or Return on the keyboard or select the Send button to send it.
- Copy and paste a saved file or any image from an Office program into the text input area.
- Press the PrtScn button on your keyboard to capture an image directly from your screen, and then paste it into the text input area.
TIP: If you are in a group IM conversation, share the image by saving it, then clicking the Presentation Icon > Attachments tab > Insert Files (the file will be sent an icon that the recipient transfers to their computer to view), or by pasting it to an interactive Whiteboard.
Send a group message
You can send an instant message to multiple contacts using two methods:
- If they are in the same group. Right-click on the gray bar with the name of the group and select Send an IM.
- Hold down the Ctrl key and select multiple contacts or hold down the Shift key and select a series of contacts. Right-click and select Send an IM.
Invite another contact to a conversation
Add others to the conversation by dragging their contact listing from your Contacts list into the conversation window or:
- Select the Invite more people button
.
- Select contacts from your contact list or using the search option.
- Select the contact from your contacts list or search for the contact by last name.
Add voice or video
Add voice to a conversation
You can quickly add audio to your IM conversation by selecting the Telephone Button . You can continue using Instant Message while you talk.
Add video to a conversation
You can quickly add video to your IM conversation by selecting the Camera Icon . You can continue using Instant Message while you talk.
End a conversation
When you’re done with an instant message conversation, select the Close button in the upper-left corner of the conversation window.
Conversation History
By default, instant messages and voice and video call logs are available in Skype for Business and in an automatically generated folder in Outlook called Conversation History.
To view your conversation history in Skype for Business
- Launch Skype for Business.
- Select Chats from the left menu.
To view your conversation history in Outlook
- Launch Outlook or log in at outlook.office365.com.
- Look for a folder below your inbox called Conversation History.
Instant messaging in Skype for Business makes quick conversations easy by allowing you to see a person or group's availability first. If conversations become more complex, you can easily add in voice or video.
Send an instant message
- Locate the person you want to send an instant message to by searching in the Contacts tab or select from your Contacts list.
- Start an instant message in one of the following ways:
- Select the contact then, select the message icon in the window.
- Double-click anywhere on the contact listing.
- Hold down control on the keyboard and select the contact. Then, select Send an Instant Message.
- Type your message at bottom of the conversation window.
- Press Enter or Return on your keyboard to send the message.
Invite another contact to a conversation
- Start an instant message conversation using one of the methods above.
- Select the person with the + icon.
- Search for a contact.
- Double-click on the contact’s name to add them to the conversation.
Add voice and video
Add voice to a conversation
You can quickly add audio to your IM conversation by selecting the Call Icon > Skype Call. You can continue using Instant Message while you talk.
Note: You can only add voice to an instant message when you are chatting with someone else logged into Skype for Business.
Add video to a conversation
You can quickly add video to your IM conversation by selecting the Camera Icon > Start Video. You can continue using Instant Message while you talk.
Note: Video can only be added to instant messages when you are chatting with someone else logged into Skype for Business.
End a conversation
When you’re done with an instant message conversation, select the Close button in the upper-left corner of the conversation window.
Conversation History
By default, instant messages and voice and video call logs are available in Skype for Business and in an automatically generated folder in Outlook called Conversation History.
To view your conversation history in Skype for Business:
- Launch Skype for Business.
- Select Chats from the left menu.
To view your conversation history in Outlook:
- Launch Outlook or log in at mail.ku.edu.
- Look for a folder below your inbox called Conversation History.
iPhone
Send an instant message
- When you find the person you’re looking for, tap their name. [view screenshot]
- Type a message, and then tap the send icon (paper plane).
Add audio to an IM
When you’re in an IM and you want to call the contact, tap the Phone icon and then click one of the call buttons. [view screenshot]
Add video to an IM or call
To add video to an IM or audio conversation, tap the Video icon, and then tap Start My Video. [view screenshot]
iPad
Send an instant message
- When you find the person you’re looking for, tap their name.
- Type a message, and then tap the paper plane icon to send. [view screenshot]
Add audio to an IM
When you’re in an IM and you want to call the contact, tap the Phone icon and allow the app to access your microphone. [view screenshot]
Add video to an IM or call
To add video to an IM or audio conversation, tap the Video icon, and allow the app to access your camera. [view screenshot]
Windows Phone
Send an instant message
- When you find the person you’re looking for, tap their name, and then tap the send IM icon.
- Type your message, and then tap the Send icon.
Add audio to an IM
When you’re in a IM and you want to call the contact, tap the Phone icon and then select the number you’d like to call.
Add video to a conversation
When you’re on a call and you’d like to add video to the call, tap the Video icon, and then select start my video.
TIP: You can also switch between your front and back cameras, by selecting switch camera.
Send an IM during a video call
- Tap the IM icon.
- Type your message and then tap the Send icon.
Android
Send an instant message
- When you find the person you’re looking for, tap their name, and then tap the IM icon to send an instant message.
- Type a message, and then tap Send.
Add audio to an IM
When you’re in an IM and you want to call the contact, tap the Phone icon and then click one of the call buttons.
Add video to a conversation
- To add video to an IM or audio conversation, tap the Video icon.
TIP: You can also switch between your front and back cameras, by selecting switch camera.