Two sets of information have come my way about OCS. The first is the licensing is beginning to get clearer. Please don't send me questions on upgrades and pricing – talk to whoever you normally go to when you acquire software.
Licensing
The different versions of the server (standard and Enterprise) describe how the components fit together, not the Client Access Licenses (CALs) needed. There are two CALs – confusingly also called standard and enterprise. You can talk to an enterprise server with a Standard CAL (and vice versa) – CAL types are driven by function, not design.
Neither of these includes Public IM connectivity (linking to AOL, MSN and Yahoo!) and that will continue to be service with it's own license
You won't need a CAL for:
You will need CALs for each user or device for the following:
This last point raises the question, "What about hosting conferences for external people ?" this is where the external Connector (EC) licence comes in. This allows access to "external" users –that can include, but is not limited to, business partners, suppliers, customers, retirees, and alumni.
The second area is Devices and Gateways
We've announced more details of partners providing phones for OCS – more information is available at the device and gateway "Strategic Partners" page), here's a round up of the headsets and handsets.
Jabra GN 2000 USB Headset
Wired USB Headset [On10 have a good Jabra interview ]
The Jabra GN9330 USB Headset
Bluetooth Earpeice + USB adapter
The Jabra GN9350 Headset
Dual-function wireless headset for both traditional and PC-based telephony.
LG-Nortel Bluetooth Headset (IP8502)
[Microsoft reference design 'Anacapa']
Bluetooth Earbud + USB adapter.
Polycom CX100 Speakerphone
Portable, speakerphone for Office Communicator 2007
Polycom CX200 Desktop Phone / LG-Nortel USB Phone (IP8501) [Microsoft reference design 'Catalina']
Office Communicator 2007 peripheral with handset, headset or speakerphone mode
Vitelix VX-100
USB Phone without dialpad
NEC UC USB Phone
USB Phone with dialpad
Vitelix VX-200
Vitelix VX-200 Duo
USB Phone with dialpad and Standard Telephone Connection.
PolyCom CX400 Cordless Phone
Portable, cordless handset for Office Communicator 2007.
PolyCom CX700 IP Phone / LG-Nortel IP Phone 8540 (IP8540) [Microsoft reference Design 'Tanjay']
Standalone IP phone with a large touch-screen color display and WinCE based user interface
We've got a photo in pressPass UC gallery with Gurdeep Singh Pall surrounded by these devices. Traditional phones have a limited frequency range which gives them their distinctive sound: the majority of these phones are "wideband" so the sound is more natural.
The device and gateway "Strategic Partners" page also links to AudioCodes, Dialogic and Quintum who provide gateway products.
/snip
Non OCS users calling (or being called by) an extension hosted on your OCS Server
Public-network or federated users communicating with your OCS users
how very generous of the UC team ;) THAT never ocurred to me.
I really really hope this was never a consideration.
Even mentioning this model scares the bejesus out of me and I'm on side, the suggestion of it with the still prevalent suspisicion regarding Microsoft is pretty potent ammunition for the compettition. A statement saying that this; is not never was; and never will be a realistic licensing strategy better be forthcoming.
I don't think it was ever a consideration. I wasn't party to the discussions, so I can't give you a cast iron statement that no-one anywhere in Microsoft ever thought about it for even a moment.
But if you say <i>"Everyone who uses OCS needs a CAL"</i> then some people will ask <i>"What about people we call or who call us - do we need the external connector license if we connect to the PSTN ".</i> and the answer is <b>NO</b> we have never thought of those people as using/connecting to LCS with gateways we've had up to now and that doesn't change with OCS.
In the same way users in Federated companies already have a license for their LCS/OCS, and when you pay for the PIC license you don't need to pay for a license for the Windows Live (etc) users who talk to you.
This is avoidance of doubt stuff.