Early Queue for Lync 2010 Communications Server



Microsoft Lync Server 2010, previously known as Communications Server "14", is already proving popular with a queue of early adopters forming.

A Microsoft spokesperson said: "More than 20 partners and over 100 customers have enrolled in early adoption programs to get an experience of the enhanced Lync features. And at least 20,000 seats will be active before the final product launches."

The product is at its final stage of testing with a Release Candidate now available for download.

Kirk Gregersen, senior director for Microsoft OC, said: "Lync 2010, previously known as Communications Server "14", will unify enterprise voice and allow instant messaging as well as video, web and audio conferencing all within the same back-end infrastructure."

Recently Microsoft has partnered with unified communications vendor Polycom, to offer VoIP and IP-based solutions as an alternative to PBX-style voice communications.

Microsoft will ship the final release of Lync Communications Server 2010 by the end of the year. They are renaming many of their products:

- Office Communications Online is now Lync Online
- Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 R2 is now Microsoft Lync 2010
- Office Communicator Web Access is now Lync Web App.

Communications Server becomes Microsoft Lync



Right time for me to eat humble pie, my previous post about Communications Server "14" remaining nameless is wide of the mark.

Now I know that one of the beauties of blogging is that I could just change it or add an update. But I have decided to own my mistake - I feel it is only appropriate given the confusion that has surrounded CS14.

So we have Microsoft Lync 2010 and all of its benefits of IM, Enterprise voice, meeting capabilities and presence. The name Lync is meant to be a synergy of 'Link' and 'Sync' which reflects its ability to connect people in any way and from anywhere.

I just talked to an industry expert and he told me that this was an attempt by Microsoft to get back to the top of the tree as far as OS office and associated products are concerned.

He felt that the arrival of Communications Server is a return to the days of having fully reliable Microsoft products that do exactly what they say on the tin.
Many people in big business has been forced to drift away from MS products and then lose time and money learning how to use them.

And yes he believed that office workers will be weaned off expensive and time-consuming conferences now that web, audio and video-conferencing will be so easy.

There is more information about Microsoft Lync 2010 and how to download the release candidate here.

Communications Server Cancels Meeting


I saw this post recently which suggested that Communications Server by Microsoft would bring about the end of the face-to-face meeting as we know it.

Because it acts as a unified conferencing client which can deliver perfect audio, VoIP and video quality as well as presence information, many people are excited about the release of communications server.

It is the ultimate unified communications product can coexist with Office Communications Server and route all of your communications to one inbox.

There is a single number for Office Communicator and your mobile phone, Instant Messaging with Windows Live, Integration with third party PSTN audio conferencing services and common call controls such as Unified voicemail.

But I would be interested to see if anyone thinks that communications server will mean that meetings are no longer necessary?

Communications Server Keeps Donald Duck Waiting




This morning I had a look at one of my favourite Communications Server sites by Chris Norman to find a very handy guide to web conferencing straight from your browser with Communications Server "14".



The picture above shows how you can have someone waiting (in this case Donald Duck - I bet he's getting mad) but ready to join a meeting even if they are not an administrator. This is known as lobby functionality and it gives you complete control over your web conferencing.



Now DD is in the conversation, though it is always hard to understand a duck, even with crystal clear audio and video. Notice all the nice options on the right hand side for sharing Powerpoint presentations and more.



The web conferencing is taken one step further in this shot as Chris is actually sharing his screen with DD, as evidenced by the arrow.



Finally DD is opening firefox to check out audio meeting options. Fantastic stuff VoIPNorm!

Microsoft Communications Server "14" Remains Nameless




The speculation as to what the eventual name of Microsoft Communications Server "14" might be has refused to go away.
A blog post by TMCNet got excited about Microsoft Lync 2010. Could that be the new name for Communications Server "14"?

Although it is very similar to Communications Server "14", Microsoft Lync is the new web-based attendee meeting application which works from a browser to compliment your full Windows-based Communicator app. The obvious benefits of this are that you can host your own meetings because it acts as a client for online conferences.

Installing this application also allows non administrators to enter the conversation using communication tools such as audio VoIP, instant messaging and video.

Like Microsoft Communications Server "14" it also offers collaboration tools such as screen sharing, application sharing, attachments and PowerPoint presentations for multiple users.

But there is a new set of videos released to preview Communications Server "14":

IM and Presence for CS 14

Conferencing for CS14

Enterprise Voice for CS14

Platform Extensibility for CS14

High Definition for CS14

Client Extensibility for CS14

Sangoma Compatible with Communications Server "14"




Sangoma Technologies has released the NetBorder Express VoIP Gateway 3.0.

NetBorder is a unified communications solution for Windows products such as Communications Server "14", and Office Communications Server.

It allows connection with software-based PBXs and also acts as a VoIP and SIP Gateway solution. Developers can use NetBorder gateways to enable SIP-based applications such as IVRs, conferencing servers and IP-PBX.

NetBorder resides in the same server as the PBX system so it can be integrated with other telecom apps.

Frederic Dickey, Sangoma's director of Marketing, said: "The NetBorder Express Gateway 3.0 combines a high level of integration and functionality yet is easy to manage. It displays our commitment to developing solutions for the IP-PBX industry and meeting the needs of customers."

New features

Transport Layer Security (TLS)
Secure Real-Time Transport (SRTP)
Management Information Bases (MIB)
Foreign Exchange Station (FXS)
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)

Communications Server "14" Site Resiliency


I just read this useful blog about how Communications Server "14" provides Site Resiliency. The new component means you can protect against site failures and offer multiple user locations.

- Small or medium sized remote offices where a Survivable Branch Appliance is installed are defined as a Branch Site. For these clients there is another pool in a central site in the event that the SBA fails. However, the SBA is simply a Registrar and not a full pool

- Main offices and data centers with full Communications Server "14" deployments are defined as a Central Site.

Each Enterprise VoIP enabled user is associated with a primary site and secondary backup site. This is done automatically or by registering with the primary site.

Meanwhile the Registrar service handles Communicator connections and end-point login to Communications Server "14". The Registrar is found in the Frond-End server role.

In the event that the primary host is unreachable, then Communications Server "14" end-points can perform automatic SRV lookup and leverage multiple responses. This gives clients the ability to look for services on another host.

The feature provides highly-available services to users with the back-up of disaster recovery protection or a secondary pool in the same site.

In the event of a major failure such as as WAN outage, users will remain signed in to their Communicator client.
But they can only access Enterprise Voice features and peer-to-peer communications between users in the office that is affected by the outage.

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