In Skype for Business you can quickly add individual people as contacts or add mail-enabled Active Directory groups.

In Skype for Business, three types of contact groups are available for contact list organization:

  • Skype for Business Default Groups (e.g. Favorites, Other Contacts)
  • University of Iowa mail-enabled Active Directory Groups (e.g. ITS-CTS-LT)
  • User Created Groups (e.g. New Group, etc.)

Create a New Group:

  1. Open the Skype for Business Client
  2. Click on the Contacts Button
  3. Select 'Create a New Group'
  4. Enter in the 'New Group' name

In Skype for Business, you can add four types of contacts to your contact list:

  • University Individual
  • University Group
  • External Telephone Number
  • Skype for Consumer Individual

University Contacts

A University contact is searchable within our organization's Global Address List and is either an Active Directory mail-enabled individual or security group (e.g. Jane Doe, ITS-CTS-LT)

    Add a University Individual:

    1. In the search bar of the Skype for Business client, type in the name of an Active Directory mail-enabled individual (e.g. Jane Doe)
    2. Right-click on the name of the individual in the search results and select 'Add to Contacts List'
    3. Select the group you wish to place your newly added contact into (e.g. Other Contacts, Favorites, etc.)

    Add a University Group:

    1. In the search bar of the Skype for Business client, type in the name of an Active Directory mail-enabled security group (e.g. ITS-CTS-LT)
    2. Right-click on the group name in the search results and select 'Add to Contacts List'
    3. Members of an AD group will automatically be updated based on their appointment with the University

    Non-University Contacts

    A Non-University contact can either be an external telephone number (e.g. doctor's office) or a Skype for Consumer user

    Add an External Telephone Number (Windows): 

    1. In the search bar of the Skype for Business client, type in the external telephone number you wish to save to your contacts list (e.g. 555-555-5555)
    2. Right-click on the highlighted telephone number in the search results and select 'Add to Contacts List'
    3. Select the group you wish to place your newly added contact into (e.g. Other Contacts, Favorites, etc.)
    4. By default, the telephone number for this contact will appear as the contact's name until the contact card is updated with the appropriate information
      • To update your contact's details, right-click on the contact and select 'See Contact Card'
      • Within the contact card near the top-right, select 'Add to Outlook Contact'
      • Enter details for your contact in the corresponding fields (e.g. Name, Address) and click OK

    Add an External Telephone Number (Mac):

    1. In the search bar of the Skype for Business client, type in the external telephone number you wish to save to your contacts list (e.g. 555-555-5555)
    2. Right-click on the highlighted telephone number in the search results and select 'Add Contact'
    3. Right-click again on the newly added contact, and select the group(s) you want this contact to be listed under
    4. The telephone number for this contact will appear as the contact's name and cannot be modified to include any additional information

    Add a Skype for Consumer Contact (Windows):

    1. In the search bar of the Skype for Business client, type in the username or email address of the Skype for Consumer individual ensuring the Skype Directory tab is selected
    2. Right-click on the name of the individual in the search results and select 'Add to Contacts List'
    3. Select the group you wish to place your newly added contact into (e.g. Other Contacts, Favorites, etc.)
    4. Once you've added the Skype for Consumer user, a request will be sent to them. Once the contact request has been accepted, the user's presence and chat will become available.

    Add a Skype for Consumer Contact (Mac):

    1. In the search bar of the Skype for Business client, type in the email address of the Skype for Consumer user you wish to add to your contacts list
    2. Right-click on the email address of the user in the search results and select 'Add Contact'
    3. Right-click again on the newly added contact, and select the group(s) you want this contact to be listed under
    4. Once you've added the Skype for Consumer user, a request will be sent to them. Once the contact request has been accepted, the user's presence and chat will become available.

    * Skype for Consumer Client Limitations*

    • Most emojis will incorrectly send or not send at all between Skype for Business and Skype for Consumer clients
    • Sharing features in Skype for Business such as Screen Sharing, Sending Attachments while in-call, and Presenting Desktop are not currently compatible with Skype for Consumer
    • The Meet Now feature in Skype for Business and several other meeting features are unable to cooperate well or at all with Skype for Consumer

    For more information on managing your contacts in Skype for Business, see Manage a contact from a contact card and Adding a Contact.

    In Skype for Business alert options can be set for three categories:

    • General
    • When my status is Do Not Disturb
    • Contacts not using Skype for Business

    Manage alerts when someone adds you to their contact list

    1. From the Skype for Business client select Tools > Options > Alerts
    2. Under 'General Alerts' check/uncheck box next to 'Tell me when someone adds me to his or her contact list'

    Manage alerts when my status is Do Not Disturb

    1. From the Skype for Business client select Tools > Options > Alerts
    2. Under 'When my status is Do Not Disturb' select when you would like to show alerts:
      • Don’t show alerts
      • Show only conversation alerts from people in my Workgroup privacy relationship
      • Show all alerts, but only conversation alerts from people in my Workgroup privacy relationship

    Manage alerts when contacted by Non-Skype for Business Users:

    1. From the Skype for Business client select Tools > Options > Alerts
    2. Under 'Contacts not using Skype for Business' select an option to
      • Block all invites and communications
      • Allow invites, but block all other communications
      • Allow anyone to contact me
    3. Check/uncheck whether to allow invites from domains the admin hasn't verified
    Article number: 
    2782
    Last updated: 
    January 13, 2023