Monday, March 30, 2009

Microsoft Unified Communications Training and Adoption 2007/2007 R2 User Awareness and Training Materials

Brief Description

User Awareness and Training Materials for Unified Communications 2007/2007 R2, including Posters, Door Hangers, Quick Reference Cards, Demos and Tutorials, and Web-based Training

Quick Details

File Name:
UserAwarenessTraining.zip

Version:
2007/2007 R2

Date Published:
3/26/2009

Language:
English

Download Size:
1253.9 MB

Overview

The Unified Communications 2007/2007 R2 User Awareness and Training Materials Kit provides resources for IT Pros, Administrators, or Corporate Trainers to speed the usage and adoption Unified Communications technoligies in the enterprise. Materials in the kit can be customized to the needs of the company and/or organization. The kit provides the following materials: Awareness Materials - Posters, Web Banners, Door Hangers, and Stickers Training Materials Quick Reference Cards, Tips & Tricks Cards, and links to Web-based Training, Getting Started Tours, and Office Online Help and How-to's.

UC Personal Newsletter – March 2009 available for download!

Assign someone else? SUBSCRIBE

Wilt u iemand anders opgeven, stuur dan graag zijn/haar emailadres door Joachim Farla | MCSE,MCTS,MCITP(EA),MVP

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UPDATE: clarification on the Speech Server part of this monthly newsletter (March 2009).

Special thanks to Albert Kooiman for pointing me out. Microsoft Speech Server 2007 does not exist as an independent Microsoft product – Speech Server (2007) is part of the Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 (released in 2007) and Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2.

The official name of the Speech Server role is Microsoft Office Communications 2007 Speech Server and any production deployment is licensed as OCS 2007 or OCS 2007 R2, and is available in both the Standard Edition as well as the Enterprise Edition. The Development Edition is available as a free download from here

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Office Communications Server 2007 R2 VHD

Quick Details

More on the source. These are the original VHD files I posted a while ago (then only EULA was posted). Not the complete set of installers. Congrats to the PGI in Redmond!. Thanks you very much.

Version:
1.0

Date Published:
3/24/2009

Language:
English

Download Size:
664 KB - 8902.6 MB*

Overview

Start evaluating Office Communications Server today. Office Communications Server 2007 R2 delivers streamlined communications for your users so they can find and communicate with the right person, right now, from the applications they use most (like Office Outlook).
Note:
1. This trial software is intended for evaluation purposes only.
2. There is no product support for this trial. You are welcome to share your trial experience with others and to ask for advice by participating in the forums.

System Requirements

  • Supported Operating Systems: Windows Server 2008; Windows Server 2008 Datacenter; Windows Server 2008 Enterprise; Windows Server 2008 Standard
Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V is required to use this virtual machine
In addition to the system requirements for Windows Server 2008 as described in the release notes, a 64-bit system with hardware-assisted virtualization enabled and data execution prevention (DEP) is required.
It is also recommended to ensure that you have a clean install of x64 edition of Windows Server 2008 to be able to use the Hyper-V technology.
Prerequisites, installation steps, OS recommendations, and known issues of Hyper-V can be found here

Instructions

In order to use this evaluation package you will need to have Microsoft Hyper-V installed on a physical machine.
Hyper-V is available on Windows Server 2008 only and the details on how to install Hyper-V can be found here. Details of how to setup the VHD are included in the documentation that accompanies the product.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2, Communicator Web Access Language Pack

Quick Details

File Name:
CWALangPack.exe

Version:
6907.30

Date Published:
3/26/2009

Language:
English

Download Size:
6.1 MB

Overview

Users of Communicator Web Access 2007 R2 have access to many of the same features that are available in the Office Communicator 2007 R2 desktop client. By using Microsoft Office Communicator Web Access 2007 R2 release, users can access the instant messaging, presence, and conferencing features in Office Communications Server 2007 R2 through a Web browser without installing software desktop client or connecting through a VPN.

System Requirements

  • Supported Operating Systems: Windows Server 2003; Windows Server 2008
  • This download requires the following Office program:
      Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2, Communicator Web Access - any language

Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2, Response Group Service Language Pack

Quick Details

File Name:
AcdWebMlp.exe

Version:
6907.30

Date Published:
3/26/2009

Language:
English

Download Size:
1.2 MB

Overview

The Response Group Service Language Pack delivers additional languages for the Web-based Response Group Configuration Tool and the Response Group tab in the Office Communicator 2007 R2 client. By installing this language pack on your Office Communications Server Web Components servers, you can enable Response Group Service administrators or response group managers to view or configure Response Group Service settings in their preferred language. Also, formal agents in your organization can view the Response Group tab in their preferred language instead of the language configured on the server.

System Requirements

  • Supported Operating Systems: Windows Server 2003; Windows Server 2008

The following applications are required:
  • Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 with the following server roles and applications activated:
    • Web Components Server
    • Response Group Service

Integrating Telephony with Office Communications Server 2007 and 2007 R2

Quick Details

File Name:
OCS R2 Enterprise Telephony Integration White Paper.docx

Version:
1.1

Date Published:
3/26/2009

Language:
English

Download Size:
8.0 MB - 21.0 MB*

Overview


This paper details for our customers, partners and the industry at large the approach that we have defined and the various programs that we are putting in place to support this strategy.

System Requirements

  • Supported Operating Systems: Windows 2000; Windows Vista; Windows XP
  • This download works with the following Office applications:
    • Microsoft Office Word 2007
    • Microsoft Office Word 2003
    • Microsoft Office Word 2002

Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Management Pack for System Center Operations Manager 2007 SP1 Brief Description

Quick Details

File Name:
OCS2007_R2_SCOM2007.msi

Version:
6.0.6907.21

Date Published:
3/26/2009

Language:
English

Download Size:
1.1 MB

Overview

The Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Management Pack monitors Standard and Enterprise Edition of Office Communications Server 2007 R2. This release also incorporates the Quality of Experience (QoE) MP which was previously a separate Management Pack. Monitored types are event log entries, performance counters, as well as stateful monitoring of QoE. Note that this version of the Management Pack only monitors Office Communications Server 2007 R2, and cannot be used to monitor Office Communications Server 2007.
Office Communications Server 2007 R2 monitored objects are:

  • Enterprise Edition
  • Standard Edition
  • A/V Authentication service
  • Application Sharing Server
  • A/V Conferencing Server
  • Conference Announcement Service
  • Conference Attendant Service
  • Web Components
  • Archiving Server
  • Communicator Web Access
  • Mediation Server
  • Monitoring Server
  • CDR Server
  • SIP Proxy Server
  • A/V Conferencing Edge service
  • Access Edge service
  • Web Conferencing Edge service
  • Monitoring Server
  • QoE of A/V Conferencing Server
  • QoE of Mediation Server
  • QoE of network locations

Feature Bullet Summary:
  • Alerts indicating service impacting events
  • Alerts indicating configuration, and other non-service impacting issues
  • State monitoring of Office Communications Server services
  • Product knowledge: Cause and resolution of identified problems

Release History
  • 3/26/2009 - Version 6.0.6907.21, Original release of the English version.

Unified Communications Voice News March 2009

Source: Voice Partner News

UC Voice Sales Training Now Available

The online sales training includes three tutorials designed to help you build credibility and effectively sell Microsoft Unified Communications solutions, specifically voice solutions, to customers. When you complete the series, an assessment is available to verify what you have learned. Passing the assessment helps to meet one of the requirements for the UC Competency Voice Specialization.

To access the Microsoft Unified Communications voice sales training, please click here.

End-User Training Materials Now Available

Microsoft Unified Communications Awareness and Training Materials are now available. See sneak preview of the content here. The final version of The Unified Communications Adoption and Training Kit will be available by end of this month on Office Online at http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/communicationsserver/HA103336591033.aspx (link is not active now). If you have any requests or suggestion, please e-mail neetig@microsoft.com or trainuc@microsoft.com.

RCC and Office Communications Server 2007 R2

Remote Call Control (RCC) is a deployment scenario where an Office Communicator user can monitor and control a desk phone homed on a PBX. Because it lacks scenarios such as soft phone and remote users, RCC does not provide customers with the compelling UC experience for which they are looking. Partners should work with Microsoft to position RCC as a last resort while the customer is migrating to OCS voice. The attached Word document outlines positioning and selling strategy for RCC with OCS R2. Please contact Jamie Stark or Travis Hatmaker if you have further questions.

Qualified Gateways for Office Communications Server 2007 R2

The Microsoft Unified Communications engineering team is working with our hardware partners to qualify PSTN gateways for use in enterprise voice deployments of Office Communications Server 2007 R2 (OCS R2). The following gateways have been qualified so far:

  • AudioCodes Mediant 1000 and Mediant 2000
  • Dialogic 2000 (including the DMG2130 shipped with the Voice Pilot kit)
  • NET VX1200
  • Quintum Tenor DX

You can see a complete list of gateways and qualification status here. Many gateways that were qualified for OCS 2007 R1 are being tested for OCS R2 (It’s up  to the hardware vendor to submit them for qualification.) Please check the site often as gateways are being qualified quickly. An R2-qualified gateway is required to validate an OCS R2 Lighthouse or Voice Pilot project.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

MVP Summit 2009

e-office MVPs at Microsoft MVP Global Summit
In March 2009 Microsoft organized the Microsoft MVP Global Summit. At the summit Microsoft presents her latest products and technologies and Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals meet and share knowledge.

Ton Stegeman and Joachim Farla, both MVP and specialists at e-office, were present at the summit.

‘For me the Microsoft MVP Global Summit was all about the new version of Microsoft SharePoint,’ says Ton Stegeman. ‘Also Microsoft presented its vision and strategy for the nearby future.’
For Microsoft the MVP summit is an important source of knowledge. About a hundred SharePoint MVPs were present this year. Their extensive knowledge and experience is extremely valuable to Microsoft. All MVPs had the chance to provide Microsoft with feedback concerning the new version of SharePoint. Ton Stegeman continues: ‘Extending my knowledge is one of the reasons why I visited the Microsoft MVP summit. Moreover the value of the summit lies in the opportunity to meet my MVP colleagues in person. The possibility to speak with fellow MVP’s is extremely valuable in addition to reading about them on blogs and communicating via e-mail and twitter. And even more fun at the same time!’

Joachim Farla: ‘Since this was to become my first visit to the Microsoft MVP Global Summit, I travelled with my colleague Ton to Seattle, Washington without any specific expectations. Finding out about the latest Unified Communications products including the new version of Microsoft Exchange Server was for me the major focus during the summit. Twenty of the twenty-seven MVPs worldwide in the category Office Communications Server 2007 (OCS) were present at the Microsoft Campus. The two major topics of the sessions were interaction and feedback. The personal touch and the technical knowledge were remarkable. My conclusion: Unified Communications is hot and it will be. I have had a great week and hope to be present at the summit in 2010.’

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

e-office specialisten op Microsoft MVP Global Summit

Language: Dutch (English post next week)

e-office specialisten op Microsoft MVP Global Summit
In maart organiseerde Microsoft de Microsoft MVP Global Summit, het event waar alle Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVP) elkaar ontmoeten, kennis wordt uitgewisseld en waar Microsoft haar nieuwste producten en technologieën toont.


e-office specialisten Ton Stegeman, MVP SharePoint en Joachim Farla, MVP Office Communications Server 2007 (OCS), waren beiden aanwezig op de summit.


‘De Microsoft MVP Global Summit stond dit jaar voor mij in het teken van de nieuwe versie van Microsoft SharePoint,’ vertelt Ton Stegeman. ‘Daarnaast zette Microsoft hun strategie en visie voor de toekomst neer. Voor mij als SharePoint specialist erg interessant, maar ook voor Microsoft is de summit belangrijk. Er waren ongeveer 100 MVPs op het gebied van SharePoint aanwezig. Onze verregaande expertise en praktijkervaring wordt zeer op prijs gesteld door Microsoft. Zo hebben wij constructieve feedback kunnen geven op de nieuwste SharePoint versie.
Naast het opdoen van nieuwe kennis, bezoek ik de summit vooral voor het ontmoeten van mijn MVP collega’s. Je leest over andere MVPs op blogs, je hebt contact via e-mail en twitter. Om ze tijdens de summit in levende lijven te spreken blijft altijd erg leuk.’

Joachim Farla: ‘Dit jaar ging ik voor de eerste keer naar de MVP Global Summit. Zonder enig verwachtingspatroon reisde ik samen met mijn collega af naar Seattle, Washington. Dit jaar stond de summit voor mij in het teken van de nieuwe Unified Communications producten, waaronder de nieuwe versie van Exchange Server. Van de in totaal 27 OCS MVP’s wereldwijd waren er ruim 20 op de Microsoft Campus. In de verschillende sessies op de Microsoft Campus draaide alles eigenlijk maar om twee zaken: interactie en feedback. Opvallend waren de persoonlijke benadering en de technische kennis. Unified Communications is en blijft hot. Ik heb een geweldige week gehad en hoop volgend jaar weer van de partij te zijn.’   

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Dial-in Conferencing E-mail Templates

Brief Description

The following e-mail template provides basic instructions to users about how to use the dial-in conferencing feature of Office Communications Server 2007 R2.

DOWNLOAD

Quick Details

Version:
1.0

Date Published:
3/13/2009

Language:
English

Download Size:
4 KB - 297

*Download size depends on selected download components.

Overview

IT Professional administrators can modify and send the content of the following e-mail template to users of Office Communications Server 2007 R2 dial-in conferencing. The default text of the template announces the implementation of the dial-in conferencing feature of Office Communications Server 2007 R2 within the user's organization, and provides basic instructions for using dial-in conferencing.
This download site provides the same template content in the following six formats.

  • Text (.txt)
  • Microsoft Office Word 97-2003 (.doc)
  • Microsoft Office Word 97-2003 template (.dot)
  • Microsoft Office Word 2007 (.docx)
  • Microsoft Office Word 2007 template (.dotx)
  • Microsoft Office Outlook message (.msg)

Note  Replace the placeholder text in the e-mail template with connection information that is specific to your organization before sending e-mail to your users.

Forefront Security for Office Communications Server 2007

DOWNLOAD
Quick Details

Version:
10.2

Date Published:
3/13/2009

Language:
English

Download Size:
1 KB - 36.5 MB*

System Requirements

  • Supported Operating Systems: Windows Server 2003; Windows Server 2008
Forefront Security for Office Communications Server
Office Communications Server 2007

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Resource Kit

image

See

About The BookThe definitive source for in-depth technical information and tools—fully updated and direct from the Office Communications Server team
Get the definitive resource for deploying, configuring, and supporting Office Communications Server 2007—now fully updated. Take advantage of expert insights direct from the Microsoft Office Communications Server Team. This official Microsoft RESOURCE KIT delivers in-depth technical guidance on architecture, deployment, security issues, administration, performance tuning, and troubleshooting. You’ll also discover essential information for working with VoIP and phone integration features. In addition, you get more than 150 timesaving scripts, tools, and other job aids for automating administration, plus an eBook for the entire RESOURCE KIT on CD

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Plantronics Unveils New Wireless Audio Solutions for Unified Communications

Plantronics Unveils New Wireless Audio Solutions for Unified Communications

Savi Office and Savi Go Wireless Headsets Unify Business Communications Across

Multiple Applications and Devices

Santa Cruz, Calif. – March 11, 2009Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT) today introduced the industry’s first suite of Unified Communications wireless headset systems that integrate multiple devices and applications for improved business collaboration and cost savings. Designed for today’s distributed workforce, the Plantronics Savi™ Series provides a new level of communication versatility combined with superior audio and reliability.

“As Unified Communications becomes more prevalent in the enterprise, professionals are increasingly using a mix of communication tools, including desk phones, softphones and mobile phones, on an everyday basis,” said Melanie Turek, industry principal, Unified Communications at Frost & Sullivan. “Intelligent headsets that can unify devices and applications to help eliminate costs and improve workforce collaboration are truly essential for successful UC deployments.”

Revenues for the worldwide unified communications application and service markets grew by 294 percent in 2008, according to Frost & Sullivan. The analyst firm forecasts a CAGR of 72 percent for the market (2008-2014).

The Plantronics Savi Series features two wireless headset systems: Savi Office and Savi Go. Savi Office is designed for office workers and provides a single wireless headset for mixing desk phone calls with PC audio and softphone calls. Savi Go gives mobile professionals a simple-to-use wireless headset to connect to PC and mobile phone communications.  Both products have variants that support UC offerings from leading providers, including Avaya, Cisco, IBM, and Microsoft, and other popular services, such as Google Talk and Skype.

“Plantronics is participating in numerous Unified Communications pilot projects, helping IT departments increase adoption by understanding end-user needs and preferences,” said Chuck Yort, vice president and general manager, B2B Solutions at Plantronics. “Experience is teaching us that the last leg of UC — how well end users interface with devices — is just as critical as the infrastructure. Our new Savi products are reliable, minimize risk and spur adoption for IT decision makers, and deliver great audio, comfort and ease of use for end users.”

Plantronics Savi Office – PC and Desk Phone Integration

As the PC emerges as an audio platform for business, professionals require a way to seamlessly transition between the various audio-intensive functions performed during the workday. With the Savi Office headset system, professionals can use a single wireless headset for PC audio, including web conferencing, multimedia streaming and music listening, and switch to/from both desk phone and softphone calls at the touch of a button.

Plantronics Savi Office features a new software application, PerSono® Suite, to manage calls and audio. PerSono Suite provides an intuitive, one-click interface to let users mix desk phones and softphone calls, mute a call, or put a call on hold with a single click. Users can personalize PerSono Suite and save ring tones, volume levels, and default settings.

Additional Savi Office features and benefits include:

  • Mobility: All communications and PC audio listening on Savi Office are wireless, giving professionals the freedom to talk hands-free and work without the hassles of a cord, up to 350-feet away from the desk.
  • Audio Quality: Savi Office is built on digitally encrypted, voice-dedicated DECT™ 6.0 technology for exceptional audio quality and lower interference with other wireless devices.
  • Personal Choice: Savi Office is offered with two different wearing styles: convertible includes over-the-ear and over-the-head styles and a discreet over-the-ear style, both with noise-canceling microphones. 

Plantronics Savi Go – Wideband PC Audio and Mobile Connections

Designed for the more than 47.3 million mobile professionals*, the Plantronics Savi Go headset system enables users to unify their PC softphone and mobile phone communications with excellent audio quality. Savi Go includes a plug-and-play Bluetooth® USB adapter that reduces support costs by eliminating cumbersome software set-up processes and provides life-like, wideband calling through any UC application. The Class 1 Bluetooth adapter provides up to 200 feet of range from the PC for extended mobility, and also features A2DP for wireless stereo streaming.

Additional Savi Go features and benefits include:

  • Device Simplification: The Savi Go headset includes multipoint technology that allows users to switch between their mobile phone and PC calls with the touch of a button.
  • Audio Quality: The headset features an extended boom and noise-cancelling microphone for call clarity, and a single button on the headset provides remote answer/end, volume up/down and mute. 
  • Ease of Use: Savi Go also comes with the PerSono Suite software to help manage PC audio and calling.

Plantronics Savi Go will be available in two versions: Optimized for Microsoft® Office Communicator 2007 and enhanced for other Unified Communications platforms.

Availability

Plantronics Savi Office and Savi Go Optimized for Microsoft® Office Communicator 2007 will be available through Plantronics authorized retailers later this spring. Savi Go enhanced for other Unified Communications platforms will be available this summer. For more information about the new wireless headset systems, the various configurations available to customers, and pricing, please visit: www.plantronics.com/saviseries.

Plantronics – The Voice of Unified Communications

Plantronics offers one of the industry’s most complete families of corded and wireless products for unified communications.  Widely recognized for their sound quality, reliability and comfort, Plantronics’ audio solutions help companies extend the benefits of IP communications throughout the extended enterprise, fostering better business communication and efficiency regardless of where professionals are working.

For more information about Plantronics’ UC-ready products, visit: http://www.plantronics.com/uc.

About Plantronics

In 1969, a Plantronics headset carried the historic first words from the moon: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Since then, Plantronics has become the headset of choice for mission-critical applications such as air traffic control, 911 dispatch and the New York Stock Exchange. Today, this history of innovation is the basis for every audio product we build for the office, contact center, personal mobile, entertainment and residential markets. The Plantronics family of brands includes Plantronics, Altec Lansing and Clarity. For more information, go to www.plantronics.com or call (800) 544-4660.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Microsoft Office Live Meeting Quick Reference for Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2

Brief Description

This quick reference card summarizes the common tasks associated with using the Live Meeting client with Office Communications Server 2007 R2.

Quick Details

File Name:
Live_Meeting_2007_Server_R2_Quick_Reference_Card.doc

Version:
1.0

Date Published:
3/9/2009

Language:
English

Download Size:
1.7 MB

Overview

This quick reference card summarizes the common tasks associated with using the Live Meeting client with Office Communications Server 2007 R2, including scheduling a meeting, using Meet Now, using dial-in conferencing, presenting information, sharing applications, and managing questions.

I’m also on twitter

..so if you like it to follow me. More info http://twitter.com/joafar

-JF

Monday, March 9, 2009

OCS 2007 R2 SNOM

Thanks for pointing me out William (Microsoft Internal) to this new OCS 2007 R2 SNOM. We really need to test this device.

The snom OCS edition: Enhancing your everyday business communication!

The snom OCS Edition (snom Open Communication Solution Edition) combines the advantages of the open IP telephony standard SIP with the integration into Microsoft®'s Office Communication Server 2007.

The snom OCS edition - ready for Microsoft®'s Office Communication Server 2007 R2

The snom OCS Edition (snom Open Communication Solution Edition) readies itself for Microsoft®'s Office Communication Server 2007 R2.

More info on the website op SNOM.

UC Demonstration Box

TODAY released the new UC demonstration box of e-office. Just to show this wonderful product to customers and the community. This box is completely wireless and connected to HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access) or 3.5G Cloud.

Polycom CX700 (aka Tanjay) with latest OCS PE 2007 R2 image.

This demonstration box is fully operational and connected to Interoute via our OCS R2 environment at e-office.

clip_image003

Thanks to my colleagues to make this happen. If you would like to receive more information on the box please contact me.

Additional Windows Live Messenger PIC/Federation IP Addresses

Notification

In an effort to provide enhanced capacity and service reliance, Windows Live Messenger will soon be adding additional IP addresses used for PIC/Federation traffic.  Some organizations have chosen to restrict this type of traffic to specific IP addresses, as referenced in Microsoft KB 897567.  With this in mind we want to give you advanced notice of our intended change if you have configured your enterprise network in this manner.

Please ensure your enterprise firewall configuration is updated with the full list of Windows Live Messenger addresses below on or before Friday, May 8, 2009.  Windows Live Messenger will NOT enable any of the additional IP addresses until on or after May 9th (Pacific Time) to ensure your services will not be disrupted by this change.

IP address for Windows Live Messenger PIC/Federation:

65.54.227.249

64.4.9.181

64.4.9.245

65.54.52.53

65.54.52.245

For more information please reference Microsoft KB 897567, or for further assistance, please engage Microsoft Customer Support Services via http://support.microsoft.com.

MSDN Webcast: Unified Communications Development with Exchange Server 2007 SP1 Web Services (Level 200)

Language(s):
English.

Product(s):
Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007.

Audience(s):
Developer.

Duration:
75 Minutes

Start Date:

Wednesday, March 11, 2009 1:00 PM Pacific Time (US & Canada)

Event Overview

The new Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 SP1 Web Services managed API provides managed code access to Microsoft Exchange whether you are running on premise or in the cloud. This powerful, productive Microsoft .NET API provides full access to Microsoft Exchange mail, calendaring, scheduling, contacts, eventing, synchronization, permissioning, and public folders by programmatically using the Exchange Web Services protocol, a standards-based HTTP-SOAP interface. Join us for this webcast, and learn how using this cutting-edge, software-plus-services solution can dramatically accelerate your development times, substantially increase code quality, reduce test and maintenance costs, and prepare your company for a move to a service offering.

Presenter: Chris Mayo, Unified Communications Technical Evangelist, Microsoft Corporation
Chris Mayo is a technical evangelist who loves to help developers and architects get the most out of the Microsoft developer platform. As someone who is naturally interested in new technologies, Chris is excited to be working in developer and platform evangelism for the Microsoft Unified Communications platform. Chris has been a Microsoft technical evangelist for eight years, and he has experience as a writer and a public speaker, delivering technical content to audiences ranging in size from small groups to thousands. Chris is also a contributing author of Programming for Unified Communications with Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 (Microsoft Press, 2009). Prior to joining Microsoft, Chris served as a developer and architect in the IT departments of Fortune 500 companies in the retail and finance industries. Keep up with Unified Communications development and Chris at his blog.

REGISTER

Microsoft Voice and Unified Communications (Paperback)

Microsoft Voice and Unified Communications (Paperback).

image

About the Author

Joe Schurman is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Evangelyze Communications, a Microsoft Certified Voice Specialized Partner (VSP). Joe has provided consulting and research within the Information Technology industry and with Microsoft for the past 15 years, holding senior roles at IBM Global Services, Hewlett-Packard, and Accenture. Joe has founded several successful organizations focusing on the research and development of voice and unified communications technologies with Nortel, Cisco, Avaya, and Microsoft. Joe was involved in the early stages of Microsoft’s Unified Communications strategy in 2002 with the release of Microsoft Live Communications Server 2003 and has provided internationally recognized research, publications, and training seminars in each region of the world. More.

Friday, March 6, 2009

MVP "I'm a PC" Video

MVPs from the 2009 MVP Global Summit take part in their very own "I'm a PC" video.

http://www.microsoft.com/video/en/us/details/6d53ed7b-f784-4c00-b145-3c1123debc40

image

We had al lot of fun over here! Specials thanks to the people who organized the MVP Summit 2009!

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

InterouteOne Compliance Statement

Microsoft OCS R2

Microsoft on the 3rd of February launched their latest release of Office Communications Server – OCS R2. The release focuses primarily on voice quality and security as InterouteOne has support for OCS it is key to test interworking with the new release quickly.

The following services have been tested by Interoute Engineering group and proved to work with Microsoft OCS R2

  • Inbound calling using UDP RTP and SIP over TCP signalling
  • Outbound calling using UDP RTP and SIP over TCP signalling
  • Call Forwarding from OCS
  • Inbound calls via NAT
  • Outbound calls via a NAT

The below is a list of features that have not been tested or have failed interoperability with the current network architecture is being reviewed to support this interworking.

  • Call forwarded calls via a NAT – (existing issue in R1)
  • SRTP – to be tested
  • Only relevant for Internet customers (NON interoute)
  • SIP over TLS – to be tested
  • Only relevant for Internet customers (NON interoute)

The strategy for Interoute is to achieve certification from Microsoft as soon as possible and timeline will follow. This test is powered by Interoute in assistance of e-office.

More information about this statement please contact me if you want. (Joachim Farla [MVP])

NOTE:

Interoute is not currently SIP trunking certified. So not supported in any scenario. More information on certified SIP Trunking Providers see the official IOP website: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/office/ocs/bb735838.aspx#trunking

Monday, March 2, 2009

Microsoft Online Services Available Worldwide Microsoft signs agreement with GlaxoSmithKline to deploy Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, Office Communications Online and Office Live Meeting for employees worldwide.

HANOVER, Germany — March 2, 2009 — Furthering its commitment to deliver communications and collaboration software as enterprise-class services, today at CeBIT 2009 Microsoft Corp. announced that the Business Productivity Online Suite, part of Microsoft Online Services, is now available for trial to businesses of all sizes in 19 countries. In addition, Microsoft will release Microsoft Office Communications Online, for instant messaging and presence, and the Business Productivity Online Deskless Worker Suite, an extremely economical e-mail, calendaring and collaboration service for the occasional user.

More on the source

Unified Communications Improves Business Outcomes, Lowers Costs, and Enhances Environmental Sustainability

Business Case Study

Published: February 2009

Microsoft Information Technology (Microsoft IT) used a business value framework developed by Forrester Research to more precisely measure the overall business impact and the return on investment (ROI) of unified communications (UC) at Microsoft. The analysis showed that the UC solution was generating an internal rate of return of 240 percent by enabling employees to save more than U.S. $212 million annually. The outcome and continued use of the analysis methodology justify further investments in UC technology.

More on the source.

New UC Hardware Partner Products Qualified

Source: Voice Specialized Partner News: February 2009

New low-cost USB handset phones from GN and Plantronics, a USB conference room speaker phone from our new Hardware partner, ClearOne, and new Bluetooth headsets from GN and Plantronics have recently passed the UC Hardware qualification and may use the Optimized for Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 word mark.  The Phones and Devices Optimized for Office Communicator Technet page has been updated to include the recently qualified products. The page also now includes a “new and featured” product rotator in the top right corner of the page to highlight these products. View this page to learn more about these products that enhance the Microsoft UC experience for our customers.

Now Available: Office Communication Server 2007 Case Studies

Source: Voice Specialized Partner News: February 2009

 

See the table below for a list of Voice Specialized Partner case studies or click here for a full list of Office Communication Server 2007 case studies.

Partner

Customer

Title and Link

Insource Technology

Genesis Energy

Energy Company Cuts Costs, Boosts Productivity with Unified Communications

LegendCorp

Canada Cartage

Canadian Solution Provider Helps Transport Company Roll Out Unified Communications

NSPI/Twin Engines

CAB

Global Supply Chain Management Company Helps Efficiency with Unified Communications

Via Group

Atrilium

Unified Communications Partner Helps Telecom Partner to Expand Revenue Streams

Enabling Technologies

Jackson/Madison County Schools

School District Reduces Phone Costs by 66 Percent with Voice over IP Solution

2S Inovações Tecnológicas

Indiana Seguros

Brazilian Insurer Links Dispersed Employees with Unified Communications

Enabling Technologies

Hinds College

Community College Reduces Travel, Improves Collaboration with Unified Communications

Enabling Technologies

Mercer University-pilot program

University Reduces Costs and Creates New Opportunities with Unified Communications

SKT Business Communications

Friends University

Multiple-Campus University Improves Collaboration with Unified Communications

Dyntek

Lemon Grove School District

School District Extends PBX System with Unified Communications Solution

Core BTS

Dynasplint

New Solution To Increase Communication, Productivity for Healthcare Firm’s Sales Staff

Enabling Technologies

Martin Sprocket

Texas-Based Manufacturer Cuts Costs, Boosts Collaboration with Unified Communications

Unis Lumin

Cambrian College

College Builds Opportunities and Cuts Costs with Unified Communications

Via Group

RealPage

Software Maker Deploys Unified Communications to Cut Costs, Boost Efficiency

NWN Corporation

Womble Carlyle

Law Firm Employees Save Time, Communicate Faster with Integrated Solution

Enabling Technologies

Indiana University

IT Services Firm Helps University Improve Communication, Cut Costs with New Solution

Kapsch BusinessCom AG

Kapsch Group

Technology Firm Raises Productivity, Reduces Meeting Costs With Unified Communications

Core BTS

BSA Lifestructures

Firm Boosts Collaboration, Responsiveness to Customers with Unified Communications

New UC ISV Solution Evidence Now Available

Source: Voice Specialized Partner News: February 2009

Use the new UC ISV customer reference materials in your presentations and customer calls to illustrate the value of Microsoft’s UC platform in reducing costs, improving collaboration and solving business needs.

Speech-based password-reset application: Gold Systems, a Gold Certified Partner, has developed an application that boosts security and saves time and money for company’s IT departments. The case study is available here.

Manufacturing SW integration: Dassault’s integration of Microsoft Office Communicator into their (PLM) product lifecycle application has improved team collaboration and reduced the time to make decisions. The video is available here.

Call recording application: POSTcti, a Gold Certified Partner, developed a new software+services application to records OCS voice calls for compliance and other business purposes. This new Web-based call recording and storage application, which integrates with customers’ Office Communications Server 2007 and Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 environments, also helps to improve regulatory compliance and security and to boost efficiency. The case study is available here.

Web-chat application: Evangelize Communications, a Gold Certified Partner developed SmartChat, a Web-chat technology that integrates with Microsoft Office Communication Server 2007 environments. SmartChat streamlines sales processes, improves customer relationships, and expands the sales tools available to customers. The case study is available here.

Oil and Gas SW integration: Schlumberger’s integration of Microsoft Office Communicator into their software, Petrel, a seismic to simulation application. Users establish UC sessions that feature Presence, IM, audio/video conferencing, and application sharing, with a few mouse clicks, within the context of a common project repository has improved collaboration and saves time and money. The video is posted here.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Case Study on Microsoft’s Internal Deployment of UC Published

Source: Voice Specialized Partner News: February 2009

We’re pleased to announce the availability of the new case study assessing the business impact of Microsoft’s internal deployment of UC. The first business case study done by Microsoft IT, it uses the Forrester “Total Economic Impact” framework and the UC business value tools to quantify the cost savings, the productivity improvements and the reduction in carbon emissions. Because the case study is being published by the MSIT Showcase program, it will be distributed to IT Pros through Tech Net. 

Key Findings: The UC solution is generating an ROI of 240%, enabling Microsoft to save more than $212 million annually. 

Qualified Gateways for Office Communications Server 2007 R2

Source: Voice Specialized Partner News: February 2009

The Microsoft Unified Communications engineering team is working with our hardware partners to qualify PSTN gateways for use in enterprise voice deployments of Office Communications Server 2007 R2 (OCS R2). The following gateways have been qualified so far:

  • AudioCodes Mediant 1000 and Mediant 2000
  • Dialogic 2000 (including the DMG2130 shipped with the Voice Pilot kit)
  • NET VX1200
  • Quintum Tenor DX

You can see a complete list of gateways and qualification status here.

OCS CHAT offline

Sorry for any inconvenience while having an unplanned outage on the Online Chat functionality on this UC Weblog. Our support department is working on this issue. Hope to get it back online very soon.

-Joachim Farla, Office Communications Server [MVP]

MVP Summit 2009 – Day 1

image Well, we arrived in downtown Seattle WA. The flight was going very well and the flight dinners were ok! Today is the first official day of the MVP Summit 2009.

Day 1, Sunday 1 March at Washington State Convention & Trade Center (WSCTC)

  • Registration (opening at 07:00)
  • Optional Side Sessions (12:00 – 15:30)
  • Welcome and Rich Kaplan Keynote, CVP – Customer and Partner Advocacy  (16:00)
  • Welcome Reception (17:15 - 20:00) 

Sorry, for not giving you any detailed information about the in depth technical sessions (restrictions in the NDA).

More information about the MVP Summit 2009 please visit http://www.mvpsummit2009.com/public/agenda.aspx for more additional event information.

Here some pictures I've taken tomorrow morning while walking through Seattle.

Our hotel room nr 1519 together with my colleague Ton Stegeman – Microsoft Office SharePoint Server [MVP]. 

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Out street directly connected to the Sheraton Hotel.

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Large amount of street musicians. They are all over the place. And I really need to say why are these guys sitting on the street. There is a lot of talent over there!

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And the steamy underground ;-) image

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Hope to get back to you very soon.