The limits of Lync Online

Lync , the packaged software that businesses can install within their own networks, is designed to be a full replacement for PBX phone systems. But Lync Online, one of the key components of Office 365, isn't yet on the same level.

Lync Online today allows phone calls between two people using Lync clients, but not from a Lync client to a regular cell phone or landline phone number. Building services in a multi-tenant cloud environment is more complicated than developing software customers deploy themselves, Kelly says. There are also regulatory issues and partnerships with telecom companies that must be struck.

Full phone capabilities for Lync Online will "be very dependent on our telco partnerships," and will progress faster in some regions than others, Kelly explains. That process will happen over the next 12 months, but Lync Online still won't have full parity with Lync Server.

"It'll be close but not complete," Kelly says. "Lync Server still has a full PBX replacement set of features we won't have yet in Lync Online. But we'll continue to evolve and add those and close the gap."