"Skype for Business" is a video and instant messaging communication platform with integrated screen sharing and exchange of files/documents. It is different from the regular Skype and is heavily focused on business use by small and large groups. All UNESCO staff with a valid working user-ID (@unesco.org) can use "Skype For Business".

Basic usage of the "Skype for Business" client is straight forward but one can instantly have meetings only with other users who have a valid UNESCO user-ID and are also logged into "Skype for Business". It is possible to create a group meeting with both UNESCO and non-UNESCO staff.

Scheduling a "Skype for Business" meeting can be performed using the Web-interface available at  https://sched.lync.com which requires login (with the unesco.org user-ID). When creating a meeting, do not click on the "validate meeting attendees" button if you are going to have external (non UNESCO) attendees.  Once a meeting is scheduled, you will need to copy the displayed meeting URL  and schedule information  and paste it into your email-client software (or web-mail) and distribute by email to your invited attendees who can participate by simply clicking on the URL provided at the established meeting time. However, the process may require them to have  a "Skype for Business" client installed or attend via web-browser with some limitation as explained below.

NOTES:

• It is not possible to use a regular Skype client software for participating in a "Skype for Business" meeting
  
• Before emailing out a meeting invitation, always remember to change the phrase "join Skype Meeting" to "join Skype for Business Meeting" to avoid confusion.
• Web participation by meeting attendees is possible from Microsoft Internet Explorer or Edge browsers, as there are known limitations with using Mozilla Firefox or Chrome web browsers.