Voice communication The best option for voice communication is the integrated SfB Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) which provides free, high-quality audio.See directions for installing the SfB Web App in SfB Instructions for Students. However, students and non-BU attendees can participate in your SfB meetings as 'guests' after they install the SfB Web App, which is a free plug-in.

Note that students are not covered by the site license and cannot download the SfB client.

Attendees (guests) must have web access to attend SfB meetings via Internet Explorer 7, 8, 9, or 10 Mozilla Firefox Safari.

Faculty and staff may install the client at no charge as described below. To create online meetings an instructor or staff member must have the SfB 'client' installed on their computer or laptop.

Enables you to record and post meetings and presentations.

Provides a way of bringing guest speakers into a classroom or meeting.

Provides a screen sharing tool that facilitates trouble shooting for a distant guest a participant can also give remote control of their computer to the host.

Provide a convenient means of conducting 'office hours' for your students or advisees.

Provide a means of meeting or teaching online when weather precludes traveling.

Enable you to meet online and bring together participants from multiple geographic locations.

SfB and similar software packages (e.g., Adobe Connect) have a number of potential uses for collaboration and teaching: While the explanations and illustrations are fairly detailed, most users will find SfB to be fairly intuitive and user-friendly. This module is designed to walk you through installation and use. This module will refer to Skype for Business (Lync) as ' SfB'. Skype for Business lets you host up to 250 people in online meetings, and it provides a more secure online environment. The free version of Skype is good for personal use, but has many limitations compared to Skype for Business.

Note also that Skype for Business is NOT the same as the free version of Skype for home. Some Boston University support information may still refer to Lync, but these are identical. Lync was the name of the original product, but the name changed in 2015.

NOTE: This module focuses on the installation and use of Skype for Business (aka Lync), which are synonymous.

Skype share screen windows 7