I'm trying to use pidgin to log into my skype account. The sipe plugin is installed properly. In the end I want to join a lync web session. Probably I'm mixing up things here, that is why I need your help:

When I manage the account in pidgin it asks me for:
- protocol, which is "office communicator"
- username. Question 1: Is this the skype username I use when logging into skype ?

- Login / user or DOMAIN\user or user@company.com
Question 2: What do I put here ? I'm not aware of any reasonable email address but mine.

- password
Question 3: Do I type the skype password here ?

Question 4: Am I confusing the skype credentials with lync credentials or do I need other credentials ?

Question 5: Assumed I get the login working: Will I be able to join a lync web session with pidgin ?

Thanks in advance !

Question 2: See Q4.
Question 3: See Q4.
Question 4: I think so.
Question 5: I don't think it works now. Use Sky.

If you're trying to use Skype, use Skype for Linux client.

Thanks, With sky I tried also. But the questions as which credentials apply still persist. Sky asks for the same.

I guess I wasn't clear in my first message:

You need to clarify whether you're trying to connect to Skype or Skype for Business (Lync.)

If you're trying to connect to SFB, your credentials are most likely your AD login in the form of user@domain.com

If you're trying to connect to Skype, you're using the wrong application. You need to use Skype.

I want to connect to Skype for Business (Lync.)

What is "AD login" ? Where do I get the email address user@domain.com ? As I said, in this context I'm aware of my own email address only.

No, I don't want to connect to Skype. By the way, skype for linux does work fine on my machine (Suse 13.1).

Thank you !

Skype for business (Lync) uses either on site server hooked up to AD or Office 365 subscription. It is basically an intra-business collaboration tool.

My guess is you're probably trying to connect with a business that uses SFB. They will need to create an account for you and provide credentials to login to their domain (AD) or you can buy your own account from Microsoft.

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-US/.../jj822172.aspx

To clarify a bit for you. "AD" is Active Directory which is an LDAP service produced by microsoft to manage microsoft domains. It's possible that your domain is different in AD than your email.

e.g. you might use user123 as your AD login but your email address is fistname_lastname@foo.example.com. When you log into your company computer you typically type FOO\user123. When you log into Lync you're probably using user123@foo.example.com.

That's how it is at places I've worked. However, the best and fastest way to resolve your question is to ask one of the administrators who manage your company domain. Each setup can be a little different.

Thanks for your replies ! So now I learned that pidgin is not what I need. A customer invited me recently to an online-lync session (specified by just an URL). With Win7 one has to install a plugin SkypeForBusinessPlugin.msi (which of course works with IE only). Once installed I could join the meeting where we shared desktops, had audio and chat functions. All I had to enter in order to join the meeting was my name. No email address required, no username no password. So if there was something in Linux that could make this kind of session possible, it would be great.