Southwest Unified Now

Last week Gartner published its Magic Quadrant for Corporate Telephony, 2008. For the first time, this report includes Microsoft in addition to the traditional PBX vendors. By affirming OCS 2007 as a viable telephony solution—at least for nomadic or highly collaborative users—in large enterprises, Gartner is deliberately signaling the shift from hardware-bound to software-powered voice. Microsoft’s debut in this report has sparked commentary by other industry observers:

· Marty Parker of UniComm Consulting blogged on both UC Strategies.com and NoJitter.com (formerly Business Communications Review), alluding to Clayton Christensen’s The Innovator’s Dilemma in his analysis of Microsoft’s entry into enterprise telephony:

“…disruptive technologies are always seen as ‘not sufficient’ to meet the established industry standard. But since the new entrants enable new approaches and address un-served markets, the disrupters carve out an ever-expanding niche, until they are the new leaders. Now, we see Microsoft in exactly that position in the Gartner MQ for Corporate Telephony.”
“I’ve argued before that Microsoft does not want to win as a leader in the PBX market, they want to win as a leader in the ‘communications’ market, where their software can make major improvements in business operations, not just simply replace a phone.”

· At Information Week Erik Krapf also noted Gartner’s UC-centric stance by stating that change is part of the very nature of corporate telephony. “The bottom line is that corporate telephony always has evolved,” he writes, “and its continued evolution will take it in the direction of Unified Communications.”

· Brian Riggs of NoJitter.com takes issue with the assertion, by some commenters, that OCS lacks basic telephony capabilities:

“Last time I checked the Office Communications Server documentation, basic core telephony were in no way lacking from the software. Though typically deployed as an adjunct to a PBX, OCS can just as easily be set up as a standalone voice platform. The problem is not that Microsoft’s unified communications solution lacks the most basic core telephony functions. The problem is that basic telephony functions are all that OCS can presently provide, at least when it comes to voice features. I fully expect this to change going forward … and, frankly, so should you.”

Many analyst firms, including Gartner, have emphasized that today’s telephony purchasing decisions should only be made in the context of a UC strategy. You already know Microsoft as a leader in the broader, more strategic category of unified communications. Now Gartner wants you to know Microsoft as a visionary in corporate telephony, too.

Many of our customers are finding OCS and Office Communicator easily meet the telephony needs of their mobile and nomadic workers, while laying a foundation for unified communications across the enterprise.

Southwest Unified Now Radio: EPISODE #4

2008-08-22T01:00:00Z

Content

Return from vacation and business travel
New Plantronics Devices
Gartner's Magic Quandrant for Corporate Telephony
Virtualization Support for Exchange
Interview: "Ben Hur" from LG Nortel
TNG: Exchange 2007 & IPv6 and OCS 2007 Audio Conferencing

LISTEN HERE WITH SILVERLIGHT:

Show Links

Microsoft Makes the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Corporate Telephony
http://www.nojitter.com/blog/archives/2008/08/microsoft_makes_1.html

Microsoft Virtualization and Licensing Announcements
http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2008/08/19/449621.aspx

Plantronics Devices
Audio 615: http://www.plantronics.com/MicrosoftUCLaunch/product_detail_audio615m.jhtml
Audio 630: http://www.plantronics.com/MicrosoftUCLaunch/product_detail_audio630m.jhtml

LG Nortel
http://www.lg-nortel.com/
Microsoft UC Devices: http://www.lg-nortel.com:8140/jsp/lgnortel/global/global.product.retrieveProduct.laf?mid=2&openId=1&sid=4&level=2&ca_id1=20040&ca_id2=20052

Exchange and IPv6
IPv6 in Windows Server 2008 cannot be uninstalled. However, we can disable IPv6 in Windows Server 2008 by doing one of the following:

• In the Network Connections folder, obtain properties on all of your connections and adapters and clear the check box next to the Internet Protocol version 6 (TCP/IPv6) component in the list under This connection uses the following items.

This method disables IPv6 on your LAN interfaces and connections, but does not disable IPv6 on tunnel interfaces or the IPv6 loopback interface.

• Add the following registry value (DWORD type) set to 0xFF:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip6\Parameters\DisabledComponents

This method disables IPv6 on all your LAN interfaces, connections, and tunnel interfaces but does not disable the IPv6 loopback interface. You must restart the computer for this registry value to take effect.

But no where it is mentioned that if we disable IPV6 then we will not be able to install E2k7 SP1. Also we are able to reproduce the issue i.e. if we disable IPV6 from the Network Adapter properties then the E2k7 SP1 installation fails on the Hub Transport Role.

And if we disable IPV6 from registry following the second method we are able to install E2k7 SP1, but it is not documented anywhere.

Zoom H2 Handy Recorder
http://www.samsontech.com/products/productpage.cfm?prodID=1916&brandID=4

The Flip Video
http://www.theflip.com/

Jim Burton took the words right out of my mouth

2008-08-09T03:53:00Z

Obviously, this article is favorable to our position in the industry, but the fact is, this is the approach we are offering customers; an incredible development platform in .Net and a long history of enabling customers and partners with powerful software solutions. Take a gander...

UC: It's Not About Buying a New IP-PBX

Posted by Jim Burton, CT-Link/UCStrategies | Aug 8, 2008

I've observed lots of discussions about Unified Communications on the web this summer, and am convinced that the reason this dialogue continues after several years comes down to one thing: Positioning. To be perceived as thought leaders in the UC space, some consultants and analysts are providing revised, updated or alternative definitions of UC in an effort to appear as leaders of the UC parade.

Meanwhile, the vendors do what they always do--(more)

Get Up To Speed On Office Communications Server

2008-07-23T01:10:53Z

You've been tasked with evaluating, piloting, deploying, etcetering OCS 2007. You're a reader. You're a doer. Or maybe you're a watcher. This post is designed to get your started on becoming the world's greatest master of OCS 2007. The operative phrase being get you started. :)

The first resource you should consider is the OCS 2007 Tech Center. It basically does the job of this blog entry, but in much more comprehensive fashion.

If you're a reader, there is no shortage of documentation on OCS 2007. You can start with the online documentation if you're down with reading on your PC. Even with my Tablet PC, though I am not fan of reading web pages. Generally, I find there is way too much space given to navigation. So I prefer the downloadable white papers. As a beginning, you should read:
The Technical Overview

The Planning Guide

The QoE Paper

The Voice Planning and Deployment Guide

And there are an assortment of blogs on Technet and MSDN, just search for unified communications, OCS, or Office Communications Server. Of course, there's this blog as well. ;)

If you're a doer, start with the OCS 2007 downloads page and get the evaluation code and start, well, doing. You can also leverage these online labs and training:

TechNet Virtual Labs: Microsoft Office Communications Server

Microsoft E-learning Course 5125: Introducing Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007

Finally, if you're a watcher, you will want to check out the Microsoft Events Webcast Series on OCS 2007 and Communicator 2007. On this page you will find almost 50 hours of FREE training.

So, it's in your hands. I've given you a starting point. There is no argument that can be made about the information not being out there, readily available and the only cost to you, aside from the e-Learning course which is pretty inexpensive, is your time. If we could figure out a way to allow you download it directly into your brain in less than 60 seconds, we'd offer that feature as well.

And of course, if you're a listener,there is Southwest Unified Radio hosted right here on this blog. A new episode is coming shortly.

Southwest Unified Now Radio: EPISODE #3

2008-07-02T23:07:00Z

Content

Our Telepresence Experience
Exchange and HyperV
Unified Communications FREE Hosted Trial
Microsoft Online Services
Interview: Cinthia Shields Facetime Communications
HP OCS 2007 Planning Tool
New Partner Solutions Competency for Unified Communications

LISTEN HERE WITH SILVERLIGHT:

Show Links

Cisco Telepresence: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/netsol/ns669/networking_solutions_solution_segment_home.html

Scott Schnoll's blog on HyperV and Exchange: Http://Blogs.technet.com/scottschnoll

Microsoft Online Services: http://www.microsoft.com/online/learn.mspx

UC Hosted Demo LIVE:
The UC Hosted Trial is now open for business internationally!

The UC Hosted Trial is an online service managed by Unisys which provides customers an opportunity to trial Exchange Server 2007, Office Communications Server 2007, Office Outlook 2007, Office Communicator 2007 and Office Live Meeting without having to install any hardware. Any Microsoft employee can register their customer or prospect for the UC Trial. Up to 20 participants in a company can participate in the 30 day trial.

The signup site has been updated for international-based companies. Non-US based companies can try all the end-user capabilities of the UC Hosted Trial, with the exception of PSTN dialing. Due to legal guidance currently customers based in China cannot participate in the Hosted Trial.

In addition to international access, Federation with Microsoft is now enabled.

HP Sizing Tool for OCS 2007:

The OCS planning tool is designed to provide an estimation of the hardware requirements necessary to support various OCS topologies. The tool takes input from the user such as the number of users in a site, the type of OCS features and functionality, the desired server and storage technologies, and more, and generates a solution topology and associated bill of materials (BOM).

HP Architecture Planning Tool for Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 Sizer Page (requires a free HP passport account to sign-in)
http://h71019.www7.hp.com/ActiveAnswers/Secure/599409-0-0-0-121.html

HP Architecture Planning Tool for Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 user guide on ActiveAnswers:
http://h71019.www7.hp.com/ActiveAnswers/cache/561453-0-0-0-121.html

UC Solutions Competency for Partners: https://partner.microsoft.com/40029082?msp_id=uc

Facetime Communications: www.facetime.com
Cinthia Shields

IM Auditor
Unified Security Gateway

Quest White Paper on Improving Business Performance Through Unified Communications

2008-06-30T22:35:03Z

Abstract: "...a correctly managed unified communications (UC) infrastructure can assist your business in achieving strategic objectives and gain a competitive edge. New challenges faced by modern businesses can be met effectively by using unified communications technology to conduct key business processes. The infrastructure that comprises your unified communications environment is directly linked to the functioning and growth of your business."

Click here to read: Improving Business Performance Through Unified Communications

Gibson Guitar Chooses Microsoft Unified Communications

2008-06-27T21:58:04Z

I came across a cool article today that NetworkWorld posted earlier this month featuring Gibson Guitar's decision to use OCS 2007 as it's primary voice platform. The article is brief and highlights the value they derived from leveraging their existing investments in a Microsoft infrastructure; Active Directory, Windows Server, and Exchange Server.

http://www.networkworld.com/research/2008/060208-voip-microsoft-user.html

EPISODE #2

2008-06-16T21:16:00Z

Content

Welcome; Aikido Man & Name Game
OCS 2007 R2 TAP Program
Windows Server 2008 and OCS 2007
Interview: Grant Miller, Polycom
TNG: Live Meeting Updates
New Feedback Email Address & Contest

LISTEN HERE WITH SILVERLIGHT:

Show Links

Office Live Meeting Client: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA101733831033.aspx

Conferencing Add-in for Outlook: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA102368901033.aspx

Mission Impossible: In-Place Upgrading Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 from Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008

Grant Miller, Senior Alliance Manager,

Polycom & Microsoft Announcements: http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?feed=MW&date=20080317&id=8346340

www.polycom.com Have Sales Contact Me link or 1 800 POLYCOM

Samson Audio Q1U Microphone: http://www.samsontech.com/products/productpage.cfm?prodID=1879&brandID=2

Welcome to Southwest Unified Now

2008-06-03T08:52:00Z

We're very excited to relaunch our web connection point with all our UC customers and partners in the Southwest territory. So excited we've created a podcast to go along with it this time. Set those RSS readers up to pull down each episode and consume at your leisure. Or visit often and listen to the podcast online with the embedded Silverlight player.

We're planning to blog and podcast all year long, so stay tuned.

Chandler Bootchk
Unified Communications
Southwest District