I don't know much about Lync...  My work uses Lync (the whole Office package), and as a result we are able to participate in Microsoft's Home Use Program, which gives me personal access to Office 2013, which includes Lync.  I'm trying to find a way to video chat with my family while I travel (I always have my work PC when I travel).  My work does not allow applications like Skype installed, so I figured Lync was a good solution b/c they don't restrict adding Lync contacts from outside our network.  So now that I have downloaded Office 2013 (and Lync) onto my home PC, I'm trying to figure out how to setup a personal account, however I'm running out of guesses of how to do this.  Does Lync not work like other instant messenger applications?  Does it only work with businesses?

Indeed Lync is an enterprise solution and requires either an on-premise Lync 2013/2010 infrastructure or you can subscribe as a cloud service from Office 365.

At this point in time, Lync 2013 enables businesses to connect (federate) with Skype in the consumer space using Instant Messaging and audio.

Please share with us if this helps. Thanks.

• Edited by Desmond LeeMVP, Moderator Wednesday, October 23, 2013 6:00 AM
• Marked as answer by Kent-Huang Tuesday, October 29, 2013 2:46 AM

Indeed Lync is an enterprise solution and requires either an on-premise Lync 2013/2010 infrastructure or you can subscribe as a cloud service from Office 365.

At this point in time, Lync 2013 enables businesses to connect (federate) with Skype in the consumer space using Instant Messaging and audio.

Please share with us if this helps. Thanks.

• Edited by Desmond LeeMVP, Moderator Wednesday, October 23, 2013 6:00 AM
• Marked as answer by Kent-Huang Tuesday, October 29, 2013 2:46 AM

Hi,

Microsoft Lync Server (previously Microsoft Office Communications Server) is an enterprise real-time communications server, providing the infrastructure for enterprise instant messaging and other many communication features. If your company or organization deploy on premise Lync Server or sign up for Office 365 and your account and password should be provided by your company, then you would be able to connect and sign in Lync Server that your company deployed or Office 365 from Microsoft.

Hi Kent-Huang,

Doesn't this defeat the purpose of portability? I mean I use Lync for meetings from clients. I get invites and I join as a Guest on my PC. But I so wish the Windows Phone app or Mobile phone/tablet app could enable the user to atleast accept invites and attend meetings. This I think is a handicap and Microsoft definitely needs to give it some thought. 

Webex does it, Gotomeeting does it, WHY NOT Lync?

Cheers,

Venkatesh Chellappa

I am not familiar with the Windows Phone App but the Lync App from the store on my tablet (Surface) and Windows 8.1 desktop allows you to join a meeting by pasting or typing the meeting URL in to the Lync app when you select Join as a guest.

Also:  New Features Available for Windows Phone, iPhone and iPad Lync mobile apps

So if you sign up to Office 365 as a personal user can you then utilise Lync ?

You can sent a meeting invite to your family. They can download the Lync client on their PC and can join your meeting as a guest. Then you can chat, video, talk to them. Hope this helps.

I don't know much about Lync...  My work uses Lync (the whole Office package), and as a result we are able to participate in Microsoft's Home Use Program, which gives me personal access to Office 2013, which includes Lync.  I'm trying to find a way to video chat with my family while I travel (I always have my work PC when I travel).  My work does not allow applications like Skype installed, so I figured Lync was a good solution b/c they don't restrict adding Lync contacts from outside our network.  So now that I have downloaded Office 2013 (and Lync) onto my home PC, I'm trying to figure out how to setup a personal account, however I'm running out of guesses of how to do this.  Does Lync not work like other instant messenger applications?  Does it only work with businesses?

Do you actually have a question here?

Provided that an organization with Lync on-premise or Office365 has enabled anonymous meeting access, just about anyone with the right meeting join info can join using a Lync client or through a supported web browser (via Lync Web App).

Thanks / rgds,