Microsoft previews online payments via Skype for businesses
Microsoft is previewing the new Skype Professional Account, which merges features from third-party online payment platforms and Outlook. The Professional Account enables users to accept online payments, take bookings, make notes and search for businesses that they would like to work with. The preview is available in the US and will be free initially, with no indication yet provided by Microsoft of the final product pricing. The service is aimed at small businesses and those who provide services via Skype, such as language teachers.

Microsoft has opened up previews for a new type of Skype account that allows users to accept online payments and take notes from a single desktop client.

Skype Professional Account is aimed at small business owners and who conduct lessons over the video communication platform, such as tutors, instructors and consultants.

The new service merges features from third-party online payment platforms and Outlook, allowing users to accept payments, take bookings and record notes within Skype.

Skype users will also be able to search for businesses they would like to work with within Skype. The platform features dedicated profile pages for small businesses to include information like pricing and business hours.

Microsoft said Skype Professional account would be free during the preview period, but did not provide any indication of pricing after that. Users can sign up for the preview on the Skype website, though the preview is only available in the US.

In September, Microsoft announced plans to shift cloud customers using Skype for Business into Teams, its new collaboration suite.

The company also announced Microsoft 365, a software bundle including Windows 10 and Microsoft's most popular productivity tools into a single subscription package aimed at SMBs and enterprise users, both of which are available in Australia now.