Southwest Unified Now : Communicator

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.

EPISODE #1: The Inaugural Episode

Chandler Bootchk — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:00:00 GMT

Content

· Welcome

· Microsoft UC: Hearing is Believing

· Interview: Matt Christopher, Nortel

· What’s Happening

· Tips, Nuggets & Gems: Exchange Edge & Communicator AV Wizard

LISTEN HERE WITH SILVERLIGHT!

Show links

Matthew Christopher, Microsoft Alliance Manager for Western Region,

Nortel's History: http://www.nortel.com/corporate/corptime/index.html

Innovative Communications Alliance (ICA) www.innovativecommunicationsalliance.com

Official Exchange product team blog: www.msexchangeteam.com- anything to do with Exchange

Exchange Tech Center: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/exchange/default.aspx

Exchange Webcasts: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/exchange/bb288465.aspx

Office Communications Server Tech Center: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/office/bb267356.aspx

OCS and Communicator Webcasts: http://www.microsoft.com/events/series/unifiedcommunications.aspx?tab=webcasts&id=all

OCS Ignite Tour (FREE Hands On Training from Quickstart) June 9th & 10th

http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032374131&Culture=en-US

Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000: http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/38/3056&cl=us,en