How often do you attend meetings that start late due to technology issues? According to Ovum, the average delay is 10 minutes and 40 seconds. When technology isn't easy to use, it impacts productivity and can cost millions in lost time. But when everything works and everyone can join the meeting on time, you can accomplish great things.

At Cisco, we're focused on finding ways to bring people together. That's why we are excited that Cisco WebEx Meeting Center video conferencing works with Microsoft Skype for Business.

Because when everyone can see, hear, and view the same content in real time -without worrying about connectivity glitches -you can get more done. Maybe you'll even have some fun.

https://youtu.be/TpBssZojsn4

Everyone's welcome: Microsoft users can meet reliably with even more people to connect and collaborate. They can start, join, and share content in Cisco WebEx Meeting Center from their own meeting client. This way, up to 1,025 people can participate in a meeting with video conferencing concurrently.

We know that you need to choose the best technology to meet your needs. And we also know that there's no "one-size-fits-all" solution and many organizations select a mix of Cisco and Microsoft products. By taking steps to ensure that our collaboration products work with Skype for Business, we're helping you get the best conferencing solution for the Microsoft desktop experience, too.

We're committed to interoperability. In a post, Rowan Trollope shared his thoughts on interoperability and Cisco's dedication to making connective technology simple for everyone.  And as we move forward, we will continue to offer products that are simple to use, scalable, flexible, and that solidify our reputation as a leader in video conferencing. Projects like this validate our goal to provide an amazing meeting experience to users and help them take their organization to new levels.

Are You Ready?
Are you ready to start using Microsoft Skype for Business with WebEx?

• Lead the change. Turn on video. If video isn't yet part of your team's culture, lead the change. Embrace it for yourself and encourage the colleagues you connect with most frequently to join you on screen.

• Invite all users to video conferences. Everyone can use WebEx. If you use Microsoft Skype for Business, just dial this format to join the video conferencing meeting:

  <meetingID>.<sitename>@lync.webex.com(for example [email protected])

  or

  <username>.<sitename>@lync.webex.com(for example [email protected] )

• Share the benefits. Sharing the knowledge you've gained from your video conferencing experiences can help others as they begin to host their own meetings. And, it serves as a way to encourage teams across your organization to explore the possibilities of video for themselves.

Learn more:
Read full instructions and get help troubleshooting in our knowledge base article and user guide.

We're setting a new standard by making sure Microsoft Skype for Business works with WebEx Meeting Center video conferencing. Now, people from all over the world can come together easily, regardless of the platforms they use for work.

With tools that contribute to your flexibility and agility, you can work from anywhere -and with nearly anyone. You can strengthen relationships and build trust using video for great collaborative experiences, just as if you were meeting in person.

Want to know what industry analysts say about how to evaluate your conferencing solution? Take a look at Dave Michels's "User Experience Drives Conferencing Adoption" white paper. 

^{Current WebEx Meeting Center video conferencing, formerly known as Collaboration Meeting Rooms (CMR) Cloud, users have immediate access to this capability. New WebEx Meeting Center users receive video conferencing functionality built in with their subscription, available to everyone. For more information, visit our help page or www.cisco.com/go/webex. Consider solutions for events, training, and support from Cisco WebEx Event Center, Training Center, and Support Center.}