Compare Lync for Mac 2011 with Communicator for Mac and Lync 2010 for Windows

Office for Mac 2011 will reach end of support on October 10, 2017. To stay supported, you will need to upgrade. For more information, see these resources.

 

Applies to: Office for Mac 2011

Topic Last Modified: 2015-03-09

The following table compares the features that are available in Lync for Mac with Communicator for Mac and Lync for Windows.

Feature included Feature is supported   Feature partially included Feature is partially supported   Feature not included Feature is not supported

Unified user interface Lync for Mac Communicator for Mac Lync for Windows

See photos of contacts for quick identification.

Feature included

Feature not included

Feature included

Get easy access to presence, instant messaging, voice, audio, video, and online meeting.

Feature included

Feature included

Feature included

See and monitor the meeting roster for participants who are having difficulty with audio, video, or sharing connections during online meetings.

Feature included

Feature not included

Feature included

Join, accept, decline, or redirect the meeting invites, audio/video calls and instant messages right from the invite alerts.

Feature included

Feature partially included

Feature included

Communicate from within Outlook, Word, or PowerPoint.

Feature included

Feature included

Feature included

Communicate from within SharePoint.

Feature not included

Feature not included

Feature included

Rich presence and instant messaging Lync for Mac Communicator for Mac Lync for Windows

Send instant messages.

Feature included

Feature included

Feature included

Display published phone numbers, job titles, and office information all on contact cards.

Feature included

Feature included

Feature included

Set presence status manually or automatically based on calendar, login status, and more.

Feature included

Feature included

Feature included

Specify access levels for sharing information with different contacts.

Feature not included

Feature not included

Feature included

Connect with people outside the organization with public instant-messaging connectivity (PIC), such as AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), Yahoo!, and Windows Live Messenger.

Feature included

Feature included

Feature included

Enterprise Voice Lync for Mac Communicator for Mac Lync for Windows

Place a call from the Lync/Communicator contact card.

Feature included

Feature included

Feature included

Receive call notifications on the computer.

Feature included

Feature included

Feature included

Configure call forwarding in Lync/Communicator.

Feature included

Feature not included

Feature included

Access voice mail from Lync/ Communicator.

Feature not included

Feature not included

Feature included

Use the Lync/Communicator dial pad to call external numbers.

Feature included

Feature included

Feature included

Add outside phone numbers to your Contact List.

Feature included

Feature not included

Feature included

Audio, video, and web conferencing Lync for Mac Communicator for Mac Lync for Windows

Connect using audio calls.

Feature included

Feature included

Feature included

Connect using video calls.

Feature included

Feature included

Feature included

Make audio and video calls to your Windows Live Messenger contacts.

Feature included

Feature not included

Feature included

Schedule conferences in Outlook.

Feature included

Feature not included

Feature included

Start an impromptu online meeting, with the click of a mouse.

Feature included

Feature not included

Feature included

Join conferences scheduled from Outlook.

Feature included

Feature included

Feature included

Join an audio conference call using a regular mobile, desk, or home phone.

Feature included

Feature included

Feature included

Desktop and file sharing Lync for Mac Communicator for Mac Lync for Windows

Share your desktop with other contacts.

Feature included

Feature included

Feature included

Add audio and video to the desktop sharing session and see participants from around the world at their desks.

Feature included

Feature included

Feature included

Join and control a PowerPoint presentation initiated from a Windows desktop.

Feature included

Feature not included

Feature included

Initiate a PowerPoint sharing session from Lync/Communicator.

Feature not included

Feature not included

Feature included

Collaborate with rich white boarding, including the ability to copy and paste images and other content, annotations, and polling.

Feature not included

Feature not included

Feature included

Conduct polling.

Feature not included

Feature not included

Feature included

Upload files to share with meeting participants.

Feature included

Feature not included

Feature included