Microsoft said it's eliminating the web client because the desktop app provides 'the best and most stable meeting experience' for Mac users.

Microsoft's retiring of the Skype Meetings App for Mac is also adding fuel to complaints that the company treats Mac users differently than Windows users. 'Unlike Webex, Zoom and BlueJeans, which have tiny or no required installers, the Skype for Business experience on Mac now requires external guests to load a fat client in order to join the meeting,' said Phillip Lyle, vice president of infrastructure at Chapman University in Orange, Calif. This could delay guests attempting to join a Skype meeting with external collaborators. However, the desktop app still will not support whiteboards, polls and Q&A's - all of which are available in the Skype Meetings App.Īnother potential problem for Mac users is that IT departments may require workers to seek permission before installing the Skype for Business desktop client. Microsoft also said it would update the desktop client for Mac to support file sharing. Microsoft plans to make a preview of the downsized installer available to customers in mid-March. To alleviate some user concerns, Microsoft said it would make the size of the desktop app installer smaller, from 47 MB to less than 40 MB. 'And the web app was a good alternative.' Microsoft trimming size of desktop app installer things don't always work as designed,' said Larry Goldfield, digital strategist at American Friends Service Committee, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit. 'I think that having an alternative app has been valuable because in a lot of software. Microsoft customers objected to this change when first announced in October, forcing Microsoft to postpone retiring the Skype Meetings App.

The app is quicker to download than the desktop client, and it supports more meeting features.īeginning next month, Mac users will have no choice but to download the desktop client to join Skype for Business meetings. The Skype Meetings App is a browser addition that lets users without a desktop client join Skype for Business meetings.

Skype download for mac