Microsoft Lync ushers in new era of business communications – connecting people across the PC, phone and browser, through the power of software
18 November, 2010 | Sydney, Australia
Today Microsoft announced the general availability of Microsoft Lync, formerly Office Communications Server, ushering in a new era of business communications. Starting today, anyone can download a complimentary trial version of Lync at www.lync.com to begin experiencing the power of the new software, and business customers can purchase Lync beginning December 1.
“Lync unifies enterprise voice, instant messaging and web-based audio and video conferencing into a connected communications experience,” said Jaron Cohen, Lync marketing manager, Microsoft Australia. “Lync provides deeper context to communications by empowering people to communicate more efficiently across a range of compatible devices, wherever you have an internet connection. IT departments can now evolve their infrastructure and either augment or replace their PBX systems with Lync.”
Any device running Lync can turn an engagement into a virtual face-to-face meeting, as any interaction among people with devices running Lync can now include video and audio conferencing, application and desktop sharing, instant messaging, and telephony. Lync also works with the business applications you may already know and use today, including Microsoft Office, SharePoint and Exchange, which helps organisations reduce adoption hurdles.
Administrators benefit from a single management infrastructure with security features built in, new capabilities to help increase adoption across the organisation, and interoperability with existing systems . These features can help lower the total cost of ownership, allow smoother deployment and migration, and provide greater choice and flexibility.
Jetstar, Australia’s leading budget airline plans to transform the way its 500 employees communicate by upgrading their existing Microsoft unified communications environment to Lync from December 2010. Jetstar’s primary aim for implementing Lync is to provide its employees with greater flexibility and a smarter working environment.
“It is not often that the promises around new technologies actually live up to business expectations upon implementation; however, the Microsoft unified communication solution implemented by Jetstar has achieved its promises by delivering IP telephony in software and finally untethering us from the desk phone,” said Stephen Tame CIO for Jetstar.
“We are a young and highly mobile business and our management team is equipped with mobile devices; however, desk phones, and their extension numbers, have been an anchor that has restricted true mobility. The Lync solution delivers IP telephony through software and provides Jetstar true business presence across voicemail, messaging, video conferencing and voice. Our team can now answer their desk phones from home, from our Singapore offices, from the back of a taxi or from wherever they are and receive their recorded phone messages via email attachment,” said Stephen Tame.
“Solutions such as Lync enhance enterprise user productivity and collaboration by integrating multiple enterprise communication channels,” said Audrey William, research director, Frost & Sullivan, Australia and New Zealand. “With the growth of the Australian unified communications market driven by the demand from telephony , conferencing, collaboration and the mobility segments, technologies such as Lync with be vital to the forecasted growth at a CAGR of 8.0% from 2009 to 2016.”
Plenty of Partner Solutions
In line with today’s launch, Microsoft is joined by more than 40 partners who are announcing more than 100 new services and devices specifically designed for Lync. Hardware products include a variety of headsets, webcams, Internet protocol phones, telepresence systems and USB endpoints optimised for Lync, from partners such as Polycom, Aastra, Plantronics, Jabra, Logitech, Radvision and more.
In addition, more than 400 partners are currently developing applications on the Lync platform for public and private organisations of all types and sizes. Software solutions include contact centres, call recording, accounting, performance monitoring services and new applications that incorporate communications right within business processes with partners including Aspect, Quest Software, and locally JASCO Consulting.
Philip Jones, Executive Director of Data, IP and Network and Application Services at Telstra said organisations are realising benefits in rolling out unified communications solutions across their communications networks and Telstra’s alliance with Microsoft means Telstra customers can receive an even better customer experience through the integration of Telstra’s and Microsoft’s unified communications products.
“Telstra is working towards making both our cloud delivered Telstra IP Telephony service and our SIP trunking service integrated with the new Microsoft Lync. Our customers are always looking for ways to improve their team collaboration experience. We are looking to develop an offer with Microsoft Lync and Telstra IP solutions to help give our customers the ability to access leading unified communications applications with an integrated end-to-end service capability,” Mr Jones said.
“Lync is the first of the second generation unified communication and collaboration (UC&C) systems. It’s a much more tightly integrated set of UC&C applications that provides a seamless experience for the user. Lync significantly lifts the bar on how the enterprise communicates and collaborates,” said Brian Walshe, general manager, Microsoft Solutions, Dimension Data.
Several partners have also created solutions that integrate Lync deeply into business applications and processes, to address the communications requirements of customers in vertical industries including healthcare, legal and professional services, and emergency systems.
Product Availability
Microsoft Lync 2010 and Microsoft Lync Server 2010 licences will be available for businesses of all sizes to purchase on December 1, 2010. Microsoft Lync Online will be available as part of Office 365 next year, with voice capabilities expected in late 2011. Lync Online will include instant messaging, presence, audio and video conferencing, and PC-to-PC voice calls.
Microsoft Lync is the new family brand for the products formerly known as Microsoft Communications Server, Microsoft Communications Online and Microsoft Communicator, and now also includes Microsoft Lync Web App, and Microsoft Lync Online. Learn more about Lync at www.microsoft.com/lync.
For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Rudolf Wagenaar
Howorth
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P: (02) 8281 3879
M: 0439 082 550
About Microsoft Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realise their full potential. For more information about Microsoft Australia please visit www.microsoft.com.au.
Tags: Lync, Office Communications Server, Jetstar
