Mike Ghekiere's UC Blog

TechNet Webcast: Lync for Mobile Devices (Level 200)

2012-04-18T21:41:06Z

April 19, 2012 at 10:00 am Pacific Time

Abstract:

Do you want to learn more about the mobility capabilities of Microsoft Lync Server 2010, Lync Online, and Lync mobile apps? Watch this webcast to hear about enabling the mobility service on the server, deployment considerations, management, and security. We demonstrate the key types of communication that Lync 2010 supports, such as instant messaging, presence, audio conferencing, and phone calls. Additionally, we discuss security, management, and deployment considerations. The Lync 2010 mobile clients combine instant messaging, conferencing, and calling features in a single application that's both familiar to Lync users and optimized for mobile productivity. This helps your mobile workers stay connected, communicate, and conference while on the go.

Go to http://bit.ly.GZJdmj to register!

Lync Mobile On Display!

2011-05-19T18:03:07Z

The next version of Windows Phone – codenamed “Mango” was shown at TechEd this week. Paul Bryan wrote a blog entry about it on the Windows Phone Blog. He said very little about Lync Mobile in his post, but luckily, there are videos of what was shown.

Check out Windows Phone: What’s New? The Lync Mobile demo is around time marker 20:03 or so, but watch the whole thing – there’s a LOT of goodness coming in Mango… You can also check out a YouTube video called Windows Phone 7.5 “Mango” business features.

By the way, did you hear that Windows Phone 7 is coming to Verizon customers on May 26th?

Exchange 2010 Upgrade – Cheap and Easy

2011-05-18T17:15:03Z

Lots of you have been asking me about Exchange 2010 upgrades…

This just in from TechEd North America 2011:

“To help streamline the upgrade process to Exchange 2010 from Exchange 2003 or 2007, Binary Tree, a leading provider of software solutions for migrating to the Microsoft platform, is offering a special promotion on its Exchange to Exchange solution. Until June 30, 2011, the company is providing promotional pricing of US$4 per mailbox for its ‘E2E Complete’ Exchange migration and upgrade software. View additional information on the ‘E2E Complete’ solution offering.”

More info at PRNewswire and the BinaryTree site.

Lync HOLO (Hands-On Lab Online) – FREE TRAINING!

2011-05-13T18:23:02Z

What is a hands-on-lab online (HOLO):
This isn't your typical IT class. A hands-on lab online is an invite only event that combines LiveMeeting with a virtual lab. Attendees and presenters login from anywhere. Attendees watch a brief LiveMeeting presentation, then spend most of the time getting hands-on experience working through all, or just self-selected modules of the entire lab - at their own pace, and receive real–time, personal, one-on-one attention from the presenter. In addition, there’s a proctor available for technical support and to answer more attendee questions.

Overview
Learn about some of the new features in Microsoft Lync, the new and next version of Office Communications Server 2007 R2, in this hands-on lab online.

Part 1 – Monday, May 23, 2011 | 9:00am – 1:00pm Pacific Time

The Microsoft Lync 2010 Unified Client: During this lab, you will experience the new Lync 2010 Unified Client, see Lync Web App , and configure and experience Dial-In conferencing.
Microsoft Lync Server 2010 Enterprise Voice Configuration: After completing this lab, you will be able to configure a complete Voice Routing scenario, with local, national, and international calling from the Redmond location, in addition to abbreviated dialing for connected network users.

Part 2 – Tuesday, May 24, 2011 | 9:00am – 1:00pm Pacific Time

New Enterprise Voice Features of Microsoft Lync Server 2010: During this lab, you will configure the Microsoft Lync Server 2010 Call Park and Response Group Service and various Enterprise Voice features including Unassigned Numbers, and Private Numbers.
Exchange Server 2010 SP1 Unified Messaging and Lync Server 2010 Integration: During this lab, you will perform several tasks related to configuring Microsoft Lync Server 2010 and Exchange Server 2010 SP1 Unified Messaging (UM) integration.

Location: Virtual Hands On Lab Classroom

Target Audience: IT Pro, IT Manager

Registration: If you are my customer, please contact me to attend this special, no charge training series. Be sure to register as soon as possible to reserve your seat, as it will fill quickly and space is limited.

InfoWorld – Microsoft Lync 2010: Unified Communications Comes of Age

2011-04-21T02:49:47Z

It’s the top story on the InfoWorld homepage. Check it out!

My favorite quote:
“Lync gives me more control over voice communications than my PBX, and it handles video better than my break-the-bank videoconferencing system. It pays attention to privacy, provides ways to separate my private life from work, and reduces the requirement to work from a real office. For companies that no longer provision offices on a one-to-one basis, but make use of "hot desks," Lync is a natural fit.”

CEBP – Communications Enabled Business Processes

2011-04-21T00:06:24Z

What is CEBP???

It is the ability to embed unified communications capabilities such as e-mail, instant messaging, telephony, video, conferencing, and application sharing into day-to-day business processes and line of business applications. This enables a richer contextual collaboration among people, cuts human latency through real-time communications, and extends the reach of applications to phones and web pages. CEBP can improve efficiency, increase end-user adoption and drive down the cost of communications.

(Ok, I copied that from our OCS 2007 R2 CEBP website… Check out the Lync Platform Extensibility page as well…)

I will be posting some examples of solutions built on the Microsoft Unified Communications platform from time to time. There’s some really amazing stuff out there!

If you are a developer, take a look at these resources:

Microsoft Lync Server 2010 Web Scheduler

2011-04-20T21:05:56Z

I missed this!!

Last week, we released the Lync Web Scheduler. It is a resource kit tool for Microsoft® Lync Server 2010, providing a Web-based alternative to the add-in for the Microsoft Office Outlook® messaging and collaboration client for the purpose of scheduling a meeting using Lync Server 2010. It also provides a browser-based conference management experience that includes operations such as the following:

Scheduling a new online Lync meeting.
Listing all existing Lync Server 2010 meetings that the user has organized.
Viewing and modifying details of an existing meeting.
Deleting an existing meeting.
Sending an email invitation to meeting participants by using a configured SMTP mail server.
Joining an existing conference.

You can download it HERE.

Lync 2010 Client Virtualization White Paper - RTW

2011-04-15T21:27:00Z

The Lync 2010 client virtualization white paper was released to the web (RTW) today. This document describes the supported functionality, environments, tools, limitations, and outlines a series of best practice recommendations for running the Microsoft® Lync™ 2010 communications software client in a virtualized environment. An official support statement (KB article) will be coming soon.

It is important to stress that third-party vendors may support configurations not supported by Microsoft. In those situations, customers are requested to contact the third-party vendor and NOT Microsoft for support.

Exchange ActiveSync Logo Program

2011-04-13T17:49:19Z

Managing mobile devices just got easier, with the Exchange ActiveSync Logo Program.

Rather than rehash what others are saying, check out these resources:

Julia White’s announcement on the UC Blog
Ian Hameroff’s announcement on the Exchange Partner Blog
Greg Smiley’s announcement on the Exchange Team Blog
Program details for the IT Pro on TechNet

Lync 2010 Stress and Performance Tool

2011-04-08T22:43:17Z

Have you heard of Exchange Load Generator? It’s a simulation tool to measure the impact of MAPI, OWA, IMAP, POP, and SMTP clients on Exchange servers. Basically, you can see if your planned Exchange infrastructure will stand up to the expected day-to-day beating…

Well, we released a similar tool for Lync Server 2010! Meet the Lync Server 2010 Stress and Performance Tools!

The Lync Server 2010 Stress and Performance Tools (LSS) can be used to prepare, define and validate performance targets of user scenarios offered by on-premise Lync Server 2010 deployment. LSS includes multiple modules and can simulate simultaneous users on one or more Lync Servers. More detailed information can be found in the documentation provided within the installation package.

Lync 2010 Voice Quality App for Windows Phone 7

2011-04-08T22:38:17Z

Do you:

have problems analyzing the QoE (Quality of Experience) reports in Lync 2010?
have to spend time finding information on the various QoE parameters?
have to spend time finding out the acceptable ranges for various QoE parameters?

If the answer to any of the above questions is YES and you agree to the fact that the way information is being accessed is changing quickly (i.e. desktop to mobile) then this app is for you!!

The QoE Voice Analyzer app is now available at WP7 Marketplace for download. If you prefer to install it via Zune go to http://social.zune.net/redirect?type=phoneApp&id=15845777-db49-e011-854c-00237de2db9e

For direct phone install, just go to marketplace and type "ocs" or "qoe" in the search and the app should come up as the first search result.

Unified Communications and Virtualization (“Can I…?”)

2011-04-08T22:30:55Z

The server virtualization whitepaper for Lync Server 2010 is available for download here. The whitepaper outlines supported functionality, hypervisors, virtualized deployment considerations, VM host and guest configurations, scale comparison, virtualized topologies etc. for Lync Server 2010.

Enjoy!

Lync Planning & Stencils!

2011-04-06T22:30:11Z

You need a bit of a headstart in working out a Lync deployment? Try the Lync Server 2010 Planning Tool. It is a wizard-driven tool that takes you through a series of questions, and gives a rough idea of what a deployment may look like. It even gives you a Visio diagram at the end.

And speaking of Visio, check out the Lync 2010 Visio Stencils!

“Do you have any Lync 2010 documentation you can send me?”

2011-04-05T23:31:33Z

Lync 2010 is an extremely popular conversation with my customers. Since the question comes up so frequently, I thought the response might be useful to share here as well!

Lync Adoption and Training – This download contains a variety of user education and training resources for Microsoft Lync, including What's New articles and videos, Quick Start Guides, Work Smart Guides, Short Videos, and Training PowerPoint Presentations.

Microsoft Lync 2010 Training – Download the complete package of Microsoft Lync 2010 Training, including Microsoft Lync 2010 Attendant Training, Microsoft Lync 2010 Conferencing and Collaboration Training, Microsoft Lync 2010 Delegate Training, Microsoft Lync 2010 IM and Presence Training, Microsoft Lync 2010 RGS Training & Microsoft Lync 2010 Web App Training

Lync 2010 Quick Start Guides – Microsoft Lync 2010 Quick Start Guides provide quick reference information for commonly used features in Lync 2010.

Lync 2010 What's New Video's & Articles – Lync 2010 What's New Videos and Article, including the following videos: What is Lync; What's New with Lync; What's Amazing with Lync

Lync 2010 Short Videos – Lync 2010 Short Videos provides 15-30 video snippets of the most commonly used features in Lync 2010.

Lync 2010 Work Smart Guides – Lync 2010 Work Smart Guides provide productivity tips and tricks to help you work more productively with Lync 2010.

Lync 2010 Voice & Video Training – This training course covers the following Microsoft Lync 2010 features: Make and Answer a Call, Manage and Forward Calls, Follow up on Missed Calls and Voice Mail, Join a Conference Call, Join or Accept a Video Call.