Category Archives: What is?
Quick product or technology summary.
Lync Server 2010 Mobility Guide – Essential reading now mobile app available
The Lync 2010 mobile app for Windows Phone extends the power of Lync to your mobile device including stunning presence availability, instant messaging (IM), audio conferencing and calling features from a single, easy to use interface. Please ensure the Lync server environment is configured correctly for this exciting new client by reading the mobility guide.
This document guides you through the process of deploying the Microsoft Lync Server 2010 Mobility Service and the Microsoft Lync Server 2010 Autodiscover Service. Get the download by clicking here.
Some of the key features of the Lync 2010 mobile app for Windows Phone;
- View all of your fellow employees and Lync contacts availability and choose the best way to communicate – selecting either an instant message (IM), phone call or email.
- Connect to Lync conference calls instantly
- Use your Enterprise Voice (Lync ID) number for making and receiving calls, so you can connect to others using a single consistent identity
- Lync 2010 for Windows Phone provides transport layer security (TLS) and perimeter/internal network protection without requiring a VPN, so your communications experience is safer no matter where you are or what network you use.
Microsoft Officially Welcomes Skype
Well you’ve heard about it before but over my holiday break Microsoft officially welcomed Skype into the fold. The completion of the acquisition earlier this month also marks the official introduction of Skype as a new business division within Microsoft.
“Skype is a phenomenal product and brand that is loved by hundreds of millions of people around the world,” said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. “We look forward to working with the Skype team to create new ways for people to stay connected to family, friends, clients and colleagues — anytime, anywhere.”
Get the full press release here and also check out some interesting statistics provided below.
Microsoft Unified Communications Phones and Peripherals Datasheets – October Update
Updated while I was on my holidays and well worth a download. These datasheets list the phones and peripheral devices that are qualified to display the “Optimized for Microsoft Lync” logo.
Each datasheet provides information about each device, including:
- A thumbnail photo of the device
- Hardware type
- Name of the partner that produces the device
- Product name
- A brief description of the device
- URL for the partner’s Unified Communications landing page
Get the datasheets by clicking here. Microsoft tests and qualifies phones, headsets, webcams, conference room devices, PCs and other devices for Lync under its Compatible Devices Program. This program has 2 levels:
- ‘Optimized for’ – IP phones, headsets, webcams, PCs, conference room devices and other devices that offer a rich and integrated experience giving customers the power to get the most out of their Lync experience and higher return on investment.
- Other compatible IP phones – IP phones tested to provide interoperability and quality of experience
What is Lync?
You may have heard that Microsoft Lync connects people in new ways, but what exactly is Lync? Well check out this brief video for the low down.
Polycom and Microsoft Lync integration
Some interesting articles have been made available from the Polycom support team. Two tables available by clicking here summarise the minimum version of Polycom products that support the Polycom-enabled/Microsoft unified communications user experience.
Also it is worth reading the Polycom Communications Deployment Guide for Microsoft Environments available here. This document’s primary purpose is to tell you what to do and when to do it for the products deployed in your environment. Integrating Microsoft with Polycom is a frequent requirement because of the previous investment many organisations have made in Polycom video conferencing equipment so it is great seeing the relationship between both organisations working so well and literature being made available.
A fellow MVP, Jeff Schertz, has actually posted an example of this configuration in action. You can find his article by clicking here.
What does E-mail & Calendar look like on Windows Phone 7
If you haven’t already seen it in the flesh Augusto Valdez, Microsoft Sr. Product Manager, demonstrates in this vidoe how e-mail, events, and schedules should always be together. Check out this video…
PS Unfortunately there is no Microsoft Lync client available on this platform but one is on the way.
Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 5.5 Now Available
Can’t say enough positive things about what the MAP team at Microsoft provide. Check out the latest version and download the MAP Toolkit 5.5 here.
Simplify planning for migration to the latest Microsoft products and technologies with the Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit 5.5. This multifaceted tool is now even better—with assessment for easier migration to theWindows Azure platform,heterogeneous database discovery for SQL Server migration projects, Windows Internet Explorer migration assessment, and much more—MAP 5.5 includes new features to help you streamline planning for your next migration project.
Desktop migration projects are easier with the hardware assessment for Windows 7 and Internet Explorer. The MAP 5.5 Internet Explorer migration assessment inventories and reports on deployed web browsers, Microsoft ActiveX controls, and add-ons—and delivers the findings in a convenient migration assessment report and proposal.
Enhanced server consolidation features help users save time and effort when creating virtualization assessments and proposals. Enhancements include updated hardware libraries with the latest CPU models, data collection and store every five minutes, customized server selection, and greater scalability and reliability requiring less effort and oversight of the data collection process.MAP also helps accelerate SQL Server migration projects with heterogeneous database discovery for MySQL, Oracle, and Sybase instances.
Enjoy quicker, easier migrations and upgrades—saving your organization time and money—when you take advantage of the agentless, automated discovery and detailed infrastructure assessments from MAP.
Find out more by also following the below links,
Visit the MAP home page:http://www.microsoft.com/map
Get the latest news straight from the MAP team:http://blogs.technet.com/mapblog
Next UK Unified Communications User Group Event – “Come Lync With Me”
Save the Date – 25th January 2011, 6pm start, Microsoft Edinburgh office venue, register here.
Well 2010 is almost over but I would very much appreciate your attendance at the latest UK Unified Communications User Group event in January next year. I’m very excited about hosting this latest user group event and welcome the support of Microsoft and fellow industry peers. Ian Andrews from the Microsoft EMEA voice incubation team will be guest speaker.
Conducting business today depends on connecting people—anytime, and clearly in the current UK weather conditions anywhere!!!
There is unprecedented interest in Microsoft unified communications since the release of Lync Server 2010. It is fantastic seeing the product launch but now the dust has settled and you consider deploying Lync what next? Where do I get independent advice and help? How do I meet industry experts? Where can I get involved with like-minded people interested in Microsoft unified communications?
The answer is simple, come along to the next user group event and meet the local Microsoft unified communications community.
Previous Industry Expert Panel – Comprising Microsoft, manufacturers and leading industry experts.
The UK Unified Communications User Group supports the local community by providing an open forum and networking opportunity for everyone using, interested or presently deploying Lync Server 2010, Office Communications Server and Exchange. At this January event, we will show you how Microsoft® Lync™ Server 2010, the next generation of Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2, offers an integrated way to make connections more engaging, productive, and accessible. With guest speakers from the Microsoft voice team and a panel of industry experts answering your questions I’m confident this event is worthy of your valuable time.
Please join me for this evening event on Tuesday the 25th January, and let the user group provide you an open forum for Q&A, networking with like-minded people and an opportunity for understanding the benefits of Lync, such as:
- A single interface that unites all communications into one solution.
- A consistent experience across multiple devices that makes it easy for people to connect from any location.
- Interoperability with existing systems for smooth deployment and migration.
For this event an “Insider update from Microsoft” will be provided along with an “Ask the Expert” panel of unified communication professionals answering questions from the audience. Themed on the popular TV show “Come Dine With Me” I hope you find the below menu worth sampling…
Venue opens for registration at 5:30PM, event start 6:00PM.
Space is limited so please register early. For attendees interested in informal discussions after the event we intend frequenting a local bar later that evening so conversations can continue. Representatives from other local community user groups will also be in attendance during the evening so relationships with other groups can be fostered during the night.
The UK Unified Communications Group is always looking for members who work with Lync, Office Communications and Exchange in various ways. Administrators, industry specialists, or end users are all welcome to attend one of our regular meetings and get involved.
Hope you can attend, please find out more and register here. If you believe this event will be of interest for other industry contacts and colleagues in the North please pass on the invitation, everyone is welcome.
Microsoft Lync Server 2010 Licensing Guide – On Premise Solution
Introduction
With the Microsoft virtual product launch (including a well-staged appearance from Bill Gates) and numerous regional events in recent weeks Lync Server 2010 has been responsible for unprecedented interest in Microsoft unified communications. Now that the whirlwind of events is over and the dust settles I’m receiving a number of queries regarding licensing. So users can receive the feature rich experience Microsoft intended a number of licenses must be in place. In this post I’m confident you will find a concise reference for anyone considering an on-premise Lync Server 2010 solution and links for the relevant Microsoft documentation.
Pre-Requisites
Before considering what you must purchase for an on-premise Lync solution there is a number of other Microsoft products which must be in place and licensed accordingly. As a minimum the following must be in place, Windows Server and SQL Server. It is essential that you have in place the licenses for these products, thereafter if deploying the full unified communications experience:
- SharePoint is required for users taking advantage of skill search
- Exchange is required for users with unified messaging
- Office 2010 is required for users making use of Office integration
Windows Server is licensed through the Server/CAL model. SQL is typically purchased in a similar Server/CAL model or “Per Proc” for larger enterprise deployments.
The version of Microsoft Office deployed is also a critical pre-requisite. In order to access the functionality of Lync Server 2010 the Lync client application must be in place. If you do not have Office Professional Plus 2010 suite entitlement you must purchase the standalone client application.
CAL Changes
Previous versions of Lync only had two CAL options, Standard and Enterprise. Now with Lync we have three for consideration as a new Plus CAL option has been introduced. Remember a CAL is not a software product but rather the user right to access services and this CAL dictates the feature entitlement. Microsoft has thankfully published tables (see licensing guide link at end of this post) detailing the feature entitlement of each CAL and I thoroughly recommend you review them at the earliest opportunity. In brief some of the enterprise voice features available in previous product versions have been placed into the Plus CAL, this being a significant change from the previous Office Communications Server (OCS) 2007 R2 license model.
As a result of this change the enterprise voice technology features available from the Plus CAL are no longer included within the Enterprise CAL (ECAL) Suite. Although existing users of Office Communications Server (OCS) 2007 R2 can take advantage of Grandfathering Software Assurance rights this will not be applicable for new deployments. This change has been a common topic of discussion however Microsoft provides competitive options for purchasing enterprise voice features.
As with many other Microsoft products Lync CALs are additive. For anyone new to Microsoft licensing let me explain this means Enterprise CAL and Plus CAL is an additional purchase over and above Standard CAL. Depending on the quantity of users vs. devices you may obtain cost savings by purchasing CALs on a “per User” CAL or “per Device” CAL basis. Finally External Connector licenses may be appropriate if you want external users who are not employees, for example, business partners accessing your Lync services as authenticated users.
Server Licenses
As you would imagine a server license must be purchased for each instance of the server software running regardless if the deployment is virtualised or operating on physical server hardware. Two editions exist, standard edition and enterprise edition. Standard edition is typically deployed for smaller organisations or in branch locations, enterprise being more applicable for larger organisations or where high availability is essential. Regardless of the server license purchased Lync Server 2010 can be commissioned on a server with a number of roles. These roles provide functionality for example, edge services for external access, audio/video conferencing or mediation between the on-premise Lync Server solution and the PSTN services. The majority of Lync Server 2010 roles are considered “additional software” and do not require a license, however each front end server role requires a license.
Useful Links
With this concise summary I’m confident you can have informed discussions with local Microsoft licensing resellers. Please make use of the fantastic resources available via links below. If considering Microsoft-hosted or Partner-hosted deployment models please refer to the licensing guide in the first instance.
Microsoft Lync Server 2010 Pricing and Licensing Guide
Nexthop, the Microsoft Lync Server team’s customer response channel
What does Microsoft Lync Server 2010, Snow and the Two Ronnies have in common?
Well of all the Microsoft Lync product launches around the world this month I must have been presenting at the most Northern this week!!! (57 Degrees North by the way if anyone is disputing this claim). Joining Instalec, Microsoft and Plantronics for the product launch at Aberdeen was certainly eventful. Firstly it should come as no surprise that being the most Northern event I was demonstrating Lync as the snow was falling, in November!!!
Indeed, below is a picture from nearby Braemar…
Microsoft Lync ushers in a new connected experience transforming every communication into an interaction that is more collaborative, engaging and accessible from anywhere. A single interface unites voice, IM, audio-, video-, and web-conferencing into a richer, more contextual offering and a single identity makes it easier and more efficient for users to find contacts, check their availability and connect with them. Lync works consistently with Microsoft Office, enriching the experience of familiar applications like Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, Microsoft SharePoint, and more.
So how best can this fantastic technology be demonstrated in Scotland?
As tribute for comedy legends, “The Two Ronnies”, Peter Ferry from Microsoft and I boldly setup two tables on the stage and acting in tandem demonstrated live the capabilities of Lync. Perhaps for those of you who made it through the snow you can tell me which of us was the funniest on the day? If you had forgotten about this legendary comedy duo please find a reminder below, alternatively watch festive television in coming months as I’m sure they will be on the box soon…
This informal demonstration session was certainly well received with plenty of laughter (and some heckling by James Henderson from Microsoft). I certainly believe we managed to pack in the most popular product features. After this session we had our first comfort break.
Having a vendor village setup was a stroke of genius because it provided delegates the opportunity of meeting staff members from the rich eco-system of partners which deliver upon the Microsoft unified communications vision. Stands particularly of interest for me was gold sponsors Microsoft (needs no introduction), Plantronics (end devices), along with NET (gateways), Easthaven group (training) and Gateway (PC manufacturer) naming but a few who I spoke with during the day.
Static display is so last year
At this event I wanted it to be as interactive as possible. I configured a fully functioning Microsoft unified communications infrastructure so attendees could try the technology first-hand. From the below pictures you can see a number of user scenarios configured for attendees during the day. It was also fantastic having fellow industry peers on hand showing delegates how they can get the most out of Lync.
An example of an audio conferencing device. This particular unit is IP standalone (PoE) but a selection of USB audio conference devices was also on display.
Two client computers demonstrated the capabilities of the Lync client and Lync attendant console.
Next up an IP enabled (PoE) capable handset from Aastra, this being a particular favourite for one of my colleagues Mark.
Below you can see an example of a Polycom public space IP enabled handset (PoE) ideal for lobby requirements sitting side by side with the current generation of Polycom video conferencing device.
A selection of laptops and end devices ideal for the mobile worker was made available at the event. Swapping between end devices e.g. audio conference unit/wireless headset was particularly popular with attendees. Testing the range of wireless headset devices was popular as attendees walked around the venue.
I found every attendee found a particular configuration which best met their needs. Adoption of this new technology will only be enhanced by providing users choice. A number of other devices was available for using during the event but I find the choice on offer, the quality of device and varying price points staggering.
Unfortunately I missed the next presentation by Declan Doyle from Plantronics simply because of the number of questions submitted via the Q&A board, twitter, email and txt which needed answers. Once Declan rounded up his presentation regarding “Smarter Working Evolution” the final session was an “Ask the Expert Panel”
On the expert panel I had the pleasure of Peter Ferry (Microsoft), Declan Doyle (Plantronics), Mike Whyment (Aberdeen University) and Andy Muir (Easthaven). Although I was also on the panel it didn’t stop me asking questions and I found the answers provided very informative. Answering questions from the audience was fascinating and we certainly covered a number of topics. A fantastic lunch was served before delegates made use of the facilities on offer once more ranging from the demonstration experience I previously mentioned, deeper dive sessions with product experts and a number of attendees initiated one-2-one sessions in the meeting rooms booked at the venue.
It would appear many of you have requested the LyncStart promotion so I’m looking forward to working with you in the near future. From the feedback forms I’m told the event was well received and I’m glad we all made it home before the temperature dropped further. Did you make the event? What did you think? Many thanks for everyone who braved the weather, this event was certainly my highlight of the week…
