Why Cisco Jabber is More Reliable Than Microsoft Skype for Business

In the current Cisco Jabber vs. Microsoft Skype battle, there are many elements besides those of intrinsic hardware or software and user experience that play into the equation. Yes, many have come to rely on Skype as a sort of industry standard in a video conferencing application, but Cisco is also a leading tech giant and deserves a fair shake with its highly-competitive (by design) rival to the Skype throne, Jabber. So, without further ado, here’s why we think Cisco Jabber is more reliable than Microsoft Skype for Business.

Skype for Business and Cisco Jabber share similar applications that can give you superior quality experience for your organization’s unified communications. Both offer instant messaging, voice messages, voice & video calls, desk phone calls, attachments and Office integrations, etc.

And, while they can be used together, it is helpful to compare the two – to determine which one best fits your business needs. We’ve broken down the two video messaging rivals in a multi-category comparison below:

The Value of Familiarity

Cisco Jabber – If you are new to this platform, Cisco may seem to deliver fragmented solutions over multiple interfaces – but that’s only for those used to the Skype integration. The Cisco acquisition-based approach to solution development delivers a complex infrastructure to manage, but it can be worth the complexity to have a richer user experience. (Have you seen TelePresence yet?)

Skype for Business – Skype for Business delivers the familiar Skype consumer experience that everyone knows and loves from the Office applications they use every day, which eases user adoption in the enterprise. It ostensibly provides a unified client and seamless experience across smartphones, tablets, PCs—and in meetings with Surface Hub. It allows you to connect with partners using Skype for Business Online, or Lync, delivering IM, presence, audio, video, meetings, and sharing. But beware: More sharing means more potential for trouble.

Integrated Platform

Jabber – Cisco uses hardware- and software-dependent virtual private networks (VPNs) to give mobile users remote access to their company network. The Cisco communications experience is engineered for the infrastructure instead of being optimized for business requirements. Cisco cloud services are delivered by hosted solutions from service providers. Cisco supports Microsoft Office integration, and it is not limited to user presence anymore, now delivering access to some or all of Microsoft Office 365 features.

Skype for Business –Skype for Business provides a complete and integrated experience with full communications capabilities (in the Microsoft Office Suite), going much further than simple presence. Thanks to in-app integration, users can send and receive instant messages, share screens, talk, or video chat from within documents. The native back-end infrastructure integration gives users access to the functionalities they love—such as the unified contact store between Microsoft Exchange and Skype for Business, automatic Microsoft PowerPoint uploads in meetings, or in-meeting document coauthoring.

Innovation

Cisco Jabber – Cisco offers developers partial extensibility for its unified communications, and the company is currently evolving a robust dev ops community. No longer are its integrative options limited, making it less difficult and less expensive to integrate Cisco solutions into your unique IT environment and business processes.

Skype for Business – Skype for Business may have fully extensible universal communications and simplified application programming interfaces going for it, but can its status-quo versatility truly meet the changing needs of your business? It’s worth running the comparison against your particular business needs.

Why Else is Cisco Jabber More Reliable Than Microsoft Skype for Business?

When looking at Cisco Jabber versus Skype for Business on a functional basis, initially there aren’t many differences. They both offer Voice/PSTN, Video, Presence, Instant Messaging, and Multi-Party Collaboration.

You need to look at the deeper comparisons, as listed above if you are committed to using one vs. the other, not both. However, a Cisco voice platform with Skype for Business on top is one of the most common deployment topologies in business. It is not unusual to see them used together.

Some companies will need some support on executing the two platforms together; CSP can guide you when deploying the one – Cisco Jabber – over the other, or when using both together.

The reality that Skype may continue to dominate many desktops has Cisco concerned — even as Jabber itself continues to improve with a Jabber mobile software developer kit (SDK). And keep an eye on Cisco partners like Damaka, which are innovating around Jabber in a refreshing way.

Toss in the fact that Microsoft may blur (or eventually eliminate) the line between Skype and Lync (now known as Online Meetings with Skype for Business)– the business-oriented unified communications platform.

But don’t forget to keep a close eye on Cisco’s legal maneuvers. According to Reuters, Cisco Lawyer Luis Ortiz Bianco told Europe’s second-highest court that the Microsoft-Skype deal “created an effective monopoly and condemned competitors to a niche.”

Well, the select niche market of Cisco Jabber may be just what your network is calling for!

Jabber vs. Skype: The Race for Household Name Status

Cisco Jabber is not a household name yet. But a long-term showdown — involving Cisco Jabber vs. Microsoft Skype — could eventually emerge, especially in the business market where Microsoft (MSFT) and Cisco (CSCO) both compete and cooperate.

The story starts with Cisco’s latest TelePresence initiatives but it ultimately leads to endpoints, tablets, and smartphones. And to Cisco Jabber, an upstart video instant messaging and collaboration platform with a bright future. Here are the implications of whether or not Cisco Jabber is more reliable than Microsoft Skype for Business for channel partners.

Richard McLeod, senior director of business development at Cisco Systems, could barely contain his enthusiasm during a recent WebEx discussion with an unnamed source on the merits of Skype vs. Jabber.

The WebEx discussion involved:

• Cisco extending its Jabber collaboration portfolio to the Apple iPad and Windows. Jabber, a potential Skype alternative, was already available for Android, iPhone, Mac, BlackBerry and Cisco Cius tablets. Jabber supports presence, instant messaging (IM), voice, video, voice messaging, and conferencing.
• Cisco’s introduction of the TelePresence TX9000 Series. It’s basically the fusion of Cisco and Tandberg technologies. Compared to Cisco’s previous TelePresence systems, the T9000 requires 20 percent less bandwidth and partners can deploy the system in half the time of previous systems, McLeod said. The $299,000 system is roughly the same price as previous Cisco options but offers far more capabilities and a lower total cost of ownership.

Blend Jabber and the TelePresence systems together, and channel partners (like us) can empower customers to offer collaboration solutions across all types of endpoints. “Whether you’re in an immersive TelePresence room or using a PC, a Mac, a tablet or a smartphone, you can collaborate anywhere,” asserted McLeod.

For channel partners, the new TelePresence and Jabber offerings open up opportunities for managed TelePresence services, mobile application and wireless solutions, network infrastructure upgrades and more.

McLeod did not mention any outright specifics on what necessarily makes Cisco Jabber more reliable than Microsoft Skype for Business. But, clearly, Cisco wants Jabber and the TelePresence TX9000 to drive demand for new Cisco network infrastructure – and will likely get it.

The potential Cisco Jabber vs. Microsoft Skype showdown popped up multiple times during the WebEx discussion. The truth is, Jabber looks and sounds very slick, comparatively. Yes, Microsoft has raised a few eyebrows since acquiring Skype for roughly $8.5 billion in 2011. But, the idea that Skype is the only video conferencing app is silly to us.

So, how will the Cisco Jabber vs. Skype for Business battle go?

It remains to be seen, but CSP, Inc. predicts (probably rather boldly) that Cisco Jabber will emerge as the “people’s favorite,” as opposed to the obvious corporate default platform. Or at least a great rival and/or complement to the MS video IM platform for many.

We could go on and on about the merits of video instant messaging apps like Skype and Jabber and how Jabber can get you connected and ready to do business with more user-friendly features in voice & collaboration.

To wit, Gartner’s August 2015 Magic quadrant shows both Microsoft and Cisco as top leaders in unified communications space.

Cisco Jabber Beats Microsoft Skype – We’ll Show You How

For comprehensive guidance on the merits of choosing a winning video conferencing platform, and how Cisco Jabber is more reliable than Microsoft Skype for Business, contact us at (919) 424-2000 or through secure email form for more information!