Late last year, Microsoft announced that it would finally merge its two communication applications – Skype and Lync – sometime in 2015. Microsoft acquired Skype for $8.5bn in 2011, the same year that it rebranded its business chat tool, Office Communicator, as Lync 2010.
Last week, Microsoft posted an announcement that the merger would finally happen on Wednesday, March 18, 2015.
Lync Online will automatically be updated at that time. Lync client applications will need to be updated manually with a software update that should be available on March 18.
Microsoft has posted a full list of changes on its TechNet.  Any organization currently using Lync should review this list.  The visual design of Lync will be refreshed to better match Skype and Lync will now be able to access the entire Skype network.