Microsoft ditches Skype Managed Accounts

Microsoft will remove Managed Accounts from the standalone Skype communications application from March 30 this year and replace them with standard personal accounts.

Skype Managed Accounts is a feature that allows a central administrator to create and maintain accounts for the program. It is aimed at business users, and part of the web-based Skype Manager administration utility.

But Managed Accounts will soon be transitioned into standard personal Skype accounts, subject to Microsoft's consumer terms of use, the company said. Allocated Skype credits, subscriptions and numbers will be moved to the personal accounts.

Administrators will need to ensure that a valid email address exists for Managed Account users in their profiles for password resets. After Managed Accounts have become personal accounts, administrators can no longer delete them or reset their passwords.

Skype credits, subscriptions and numbers can still be assigned by Skype Manager administrators, but Microsoft said after the transition to personal accounts, Skype Managers may not be able to retrieve or access allocated subscriptions, credit or numbers associated with the accounts without users' explicit permission.

According to Microsoft, personal accounts "enable more flexibility for users", including the ability to directly change personal settings, redeem vouchers and buy different Skype services.

Microsoft suggested business users who want to continue to have the functionality of Skype Managed Accounts buy Microsoft Office 365 instead.

Microsoft said Skype for Business - part of Office 365 - had similar functionality to what Managed Accounts offers.