Johann's Unified Communications : um

Is that an analog PABX in your pocket?

jkruse — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 03:39:30 GMT

Sure is! (but I am also happy to see you) This beast was recently purchased on eBay and is currently sitting in Microsoft's Melbourne office.

I love seeing the old 1950s phone next to the Communicator Phone Editions (aka Tanjay). In UNC314 we will get these talking to each other.

Brendan Carius and Steve Edmonds are building out their demo environments for Tech.Ed next week, and this PABX will be used in two sessions:

UNC313: Planning Voice Architecture and Deployment in Office Communications Server 2007 and UNC314: Office Communications Server PBX Interop... in Real Time!

UNC314 in particular should be fun... it is a 100% demo-based session - in 75 minutes Brendan and I will get this PABX talking to both OCS 2007 and Exchange 2007 UM. We will have Exchange providing voicemail to analog phones, and will move live PSTN phone numbers between the PABX and OCS.

In the end it should look something like this......

See you in Auckland on Tuesday or Sydney on Friday!

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I had a conversation with my Exchange Server last night

jkruse — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:44:00 GMT

I just stumbled across a great blog post describing the first impressions of Exchange UM by an IT Pro in Canada, after his hosting provider turned it on..

My own mail domain is actually managed by an online hosting provider that has recently enabled Unified Communications... and the other day they sent me an e-mail telling me that I could now set up my voice mail to forward to their server.

With only a few steps it was done. I forwarded my US cell phone to the number they provided, and was off to the races.

Read the full post at The World According to Mitch.

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Microsoft IT Showcase white paper on Exchange Server 2007 Unified Messaging

jkruse — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 05:18:16 GMT

Microsoft IT has published a white paper about their rollout of Exchange Server 2007 Unified Messaging (UM). This is a good resource for those who enjoy technical detail and are curious about real-world UM implementations!

Using Exchange Server 2007 for Unified Messaging and Fax

What is the best way to implement the Unified Messaging (UM) features of Microsoft Exchange Server 2007? Discover how Microsoft IT uses Unified Messaging to integrate voice messaging with an internal e-mail messaging environment. In this white paper, we detail the technical implementation and deployment strategy for rolling out Exchange 2007 Unified Messaging features in the Microsoft enterprise messaging environment. Learn what UM features and functions are deployed at Microsoft, why UM is a compelling service to offer Microsoft employees, and the design issues to consider when planning to integrate Exchange Server 2007 with an existing PBX infrastructure in your own organization.

Please note that the following is also available as part of this release:

Technorati Tags: um

OCS goes gold!

jkruse — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 09:38:32 GMT

This is huge - in case you haven't heard the news yet - Office Communications Server 2007 has been Released To Manufacturing (RTM)!!!!

I have been using Communicator 2007 as my primary phone for several months now, along with Exchange 2007 for voicemail, and I'm personally excited that the product is now finished.

So what can you expect with OCS, and what is included in this release?

Software powered VoIP: by using a smart end-point (aka a PC), OCS and Communicator 2007 allow a much richer experience than traditional VoIP systems.
Software economics: OCS works with a broad range of devices, phones, applications from a wide range of partners.
Voice quality: The listening and call quality offered by a pre-release version of Office Communications Server 2007 was “considerably better than that provided by [a leading provider’s] IP phones,” according to an independent benchmark study conducted by Psytechnics, a firm specialising in voice-quality research.
Easy transition: Companies can get more value from their existing PBX systems, networks and desk phones by using Office Communications Server to add VoIP and unified communications capabilities without ripping and replacing existing investments.
Streamlined communications: click-to-call from Outlook, Word, Sharepoint and other apps - including the ability to simply add presence and telephony/video to LOB or custom applications/websites.
Tools that travel: It doesn't matter if you're in the office sitting at your desk, working from home, or sitting at a coffee shop - you still have all of your communications tools available. In fact right now I am writing this from a hotel in Seattle. My girlfriend in Sydney can dial my local 02 phone number and I take the call over here on my PC. All of this without a VPN!! As long as I have web access, then I can make and receive calls - and due to our adaptive codecs (more info below) it doesn't matter that I am running across an unreliable unmanaged network (aka the Internet).

So how about the voice quality?

One of the huge improvements we're making in Office Communications Server 2007 is in the area of speech quality and Quality of Experience in VoIP phonecalls.

We have a document available for download with an overview of our RTAudio advanced VoIP codec, which has the ability to dynamically adjust to network conditions such as latency, packet loss, jitter, etc; and because it is a variable-bitrate codec, calls will not drop out if the network is not "perfect". This is a huge change from traditional Enterprise VoIP technologies, which require end-to-end management of the network. Rather than adjusting the network to fit the call, we can adjust the call to fit the network.

So what does this mean? Think better voice quality with less bandwidth, and the ability for remote/mobile users to connect to OCS and make voice/video calls across the Internet and from mobile networks, wireless hotspots, etc.

Download the whitepaper from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=05625af1-3444-4e67-9557-3fd5af9ae8d1&displaylang=en

So what else is being launched with OCS?

Office Communicator 2007 - rich presence, web conferencing, multi-party IP audio, multi-party IP audio, call management, integration with Office and other apps.

My real-life experience with Communicator telephony: when somebody rings me during office hours my PC will ring (including my Catalina phone - more on that below), as will my mobile - I can answer whatever is more convenient. After hours (based on what I publish in Outlook), when I don't answer, or when my presence is set to Do Not Disturb, then calls will be redirected to Exchange Unified Messaging for voicemail.

Some screenshots of Communicator's incoming call options below (these are real shots - my numbers hidden for privacy):

Setting my phone to simultaneously ring my mobile.
That little envelope icon in the top-right is MWI (Message Waiting Indicator) for my Exchange voicemail - my Catalina phone (below) also has a MWI light for Exchange.

More call options - note the Outlook working hours option.

Calling from inside Outlook.

On a call. Note the Subject line of the phonecall - that is based on the Subject of the Outlook email I called from, so people know why I'm calling before they answer!!! Also if I'm talking on my PC and need to leave the office for whatever reason, I can transfer the call to my mobile.

Office RoundTable - 360 degree panoramic IP video camera. As part of OCS's on-premise conferencing features, you have the ability to use a RoundTable camera.

This allows you to see everybody in the room, as well as a stream of the active speaker, while you present PPT, whiteboards, application sharing, polls, etc.

A recent post on RoundTable can be found at http://blogs.technet.com/itproaustralia/archive/2007/07/11/microsoft-office-roundtable.aspx, and more information can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/oct06/10-20officeroundtable.mspx

UC and Communicator phones - don't want to talk into your PC? Our partners are releasing phones that will integrate with Communicator. There are USB phones that require your PC as a softphone, but also the Communicator Phone Experience which is a standalone handset that has an Ethernet port to run as a pure IP endpoint.

Here are some the devices from partners that are now available:

The LG-Nortel IP Phone 8540 is an intelligent IP Phone that helps improve productivity and work performance for information workers.
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The LG-Nortel USB Phone is designed to deliver a high-quality user experience.
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The Polycom CX400 Cordless Phone helps to enable high-quality cordless calls from Communicator.
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The Jabra GN9330 USB Headset is among the first wireless office headsets to offer true wideband audio.
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The Jabra GN9350 Headset is a dual-function wireless headset for both traditional and PC-based telephony.
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The LG-Nortel Bluetooth Headset is a wireless solution helping users to make or receive calls on their PCs without speakerphones.
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The Polycom CX100 Speakerphone helps to enable hands-free calls with remarkable wideband voice quality from a PC.
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The Samsung SyncMaster 225UW is a 22-inch widescreen LCD monitor with built-in camera and microphone.
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Microsoft RoundTable, camera exposed
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The ASUS S7F notebook series has a sleek, lightweight design that lets users travel light and in style.
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The Polycom CX200 Desktop Phone helps to enable hands-free calls with remarkable wideband voice quality from a PC.
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The NEC UC USB Phone is a USB device that can be plugged directly into a PC USB port, enabling high-quality wideband sound.
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We have recently deployed the "Catalina" phone internally at Microsoft Australia - http://blogs.technet.com/itproaustralia/archive/2007/07/13/office-communicator-beta-3-and-the-catalina-device.aspx

Catalina phone.

Note the red Presence indicator (meaning presence in Communicator is currently Busy) and the Exchange 2007 UM MWI (Message Waiting Indicator) light.

So check out the announcement from Jeff Raikes at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/jeff/06-26-06UnifiedCommunications.mspx, and check out the launch site at http://www.microsoft.com/uc/default.mspx

This week I am finishing the build of a full UC experience demo for the Showcase at TechEd Australia. The Showcase is running on HP C-class blades (very nice servers!) and includes OCS, Communicator, RoundTable, LG-Nortel handsets, Exchange 2007 (w/UM), all integrated with a Nortel CS1000 IP-PBX.

I'll be posting detail on how I built the Showcase on this blog towards the end of the week, so stay tuned. And of course if you're at TechEd Oz - drop by, say Hi, and prepare to be blown away by our technologies.

Technorati Tags: ocs, uc, roundtable, tanjay, um

New OCS 2007 Virtual Labs

jkruse — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 09:17:42 GMT

Try out the latest features of Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 in a free, online virtual environment. TechNet Virtual Labs are simple to use —no complex setup or installation is required. Check out the Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 Virtual Labs at: http://www.microsoft.com/events/series/unifiedcommunications.aspx?tab=virtuallabs

Office Communication Server 2007 Virtual Labs:

· Exchange Server 2007: Configuring the Unified Messaging Server
· Deploying and Configuring Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007
· Enabling Users and Installing Office Communicator 2007
· Configuring and Using Conferencing in Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007
· Using the Management and Troubleshooting Tools in Office Communications Server 2007
· Compliance and Archiving in Office Communications Server 2007

Technorati Tags: ocs, training, um

Faxing in Exchange 2007

jkruse — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 10:12:29 GMT

Unified Messaging provides the functionality of having voice mail, email and fax to a single location that is the user's mailbox. In Exchange 2007 Unified Messaging the fax feature is limited to inbound fax only. Which means that, an external or internal caller can call to the UM server and leave a fax message for a user with Exchange 2007 mailbox.

http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2007/04/18/437864.aspx

Unified Messaging PBX Configuration notes for Cisco Call Manager (preview)

jkruse — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 00:23:00 GMT

Microsoft Exchange 2007 Unified Messaging PBX Configuration Note for Cisco Call Manager 4.1 (Preview)

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=16fb1346-6b8f-47b0-8961-c05ccde0a88a&DisplayLang=en

This PBX configuration note (preview) contains information about deploying Exchange 2007 UM with a Cisco Call Manager 4.1 using direct SIP connection. You can use it to help decide if Exchange 2007 UM is the appropriate solution for your organization.

Microsoft Exchange 2007 Unified Messaging PBX Configuration Note for Cisco Call Manager 5.1 (Preview)

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=86b2b1a1-ffc3-459d-b2ce-58f5b160047e&DisplayLang=en

This PBX configuration note (preview) contains information about deploying Exchange 2007 UM with a Cisco Call Manager 5.1 using direct SIP connection. You can use it to help decide if Exchange 2007 UM is the appropriate solution for your organization.

The Devil Wears Prada... and does Unified Comms!!

jkruse — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 11:10:00 GMT

Video: The Devil wears prada .. and does Unified Comms!

Office Communications Server 2007

jkruse — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 05:09:00 GMT

We recently announced the private beta of the next version of LCS, named Office Communications Server.

From the press release...

REDMOND, Wash. — Dec. 11, 2006 — Microsoft Corp. today opened a private beta of its new enterprise voice communications server, Microsoft® Office Communications Server 2007, to 2,500 IT professionals. Office Communications Server 2007 allows companies to integrate voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) technology into existing telephony infrastructure, eliminating the need for expensive network overhauls and also extending the useful life of existing investments. The new voice server will also allow workers to instantly launch a phone call from 2007 Microsoft Office applications, such as Office Word 2007, Office Outlook® 2007 or Office Communicator, by simply clicking on a colleague’s name to determine his or her availability and initiate a person-to-person or multiparty call.

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/dec06/12-11PrivateBetaPR.mspx

I'm actually in Seattle now for the TAP Summit mentioned in the release and I can say that this technology is amazing - it is going to revolutionise the way we view communications.

Ready Summit presentation

jkruse — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 07:48:00 GMT

The Ready Summit tour wrapped up last week with our final event in Canberra (thankfully I didn't fall asleep during the UC session - find out why at the end of this post). Thousands of people attended and learnt about our latest technologies, and overall the tour was a huge success.

My presentation is now available for download at http://download.microsoft.com/documents/australia/PRBPOST/GettingStartedwithMSExchangeServer2007.ppt

And to answer some of the most commonly asked questions ...

Pre-register to download the trial edition of Exchange 2007 at http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=5789595
Download a Virtual Server/PC VHD file with Exchange 2007 (and LCS 2005) pre-configured at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=6E6501F6-481A-4117-BC22-C745400BCDA0&displaylang=en
Find out about IP/PBX and PBX support in Unified Messaging at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/exchange/e2k7help/2516dac1-dfdc-47eb-8e6f-18b1537a57b2.mspx
Learn more about migrating from Exchange 2003 at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/exchange/e2k7help/e0fa9711-1347-464f-81be-d62f34bb0257.mspx
Find out more about licensing and the differences between versions at http://www.microsoft.com/exchange/evaluation/editions.mspx
Try out a Virtual Lab at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/exchange/virtuallab/default.mspx

So why was I lucky to be awake? Catching the red-eye from Darwin to Sydney overnight, with a connecting flight to Canberra at 7:40am can do strange things to you. My flight was actually diverted to Canberra due to early-morning fog in Sydney, and Qantas were nice enough to let me off the plane and unload my luggage there, so it actually wasn't too terrible. However I do agree with Mitch Denny that it is possible to get jet-lag on a domestic flight.

Outlook Voice Access, maaaaate

jkruse — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 08:35:00 GMT

On the Ready Summit tour of Australia I have been asked many questions, but undoubtedly the most common is ...

" Do I have to put up with that North American accent in Exchange 2007 Unified Messaging? Can it please sound Australian? "

I'm happy to say that answer is no and yes! No you don't have to put up with a North American accent, and yes it can sound Australian!

There is an Australian English language pack available for download at:

And a whole bunch of other languages are available at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/exchange/2007/downloads/langpacks.mspx