Technology News and Progent IT Solutions

Microsoft announced the release of Microsoft Lync Server 2010, the latest evolution of Microsoft's unified communications software formerly called Office Communications Server, Live Communications Server, and Microsoft Communicator. In addition to centralizing the management of Instant Messaging and Presence, the Lync platform allows desktops and mobile devices to escalate a simple interaction between users to include IM, Presence, video and audio conferencing, as well as sharing of images, files, applications, and desktops. Lync Server 2010 also combines IM and Presence with advanced voice management and conferencing features to allow companies to enhance or replace business-critical communications infrastructure including PBX and video conferencing systems, which can dramatically accelerate return on investment in Lync technology.

Note: Lync Server has been replaced by Skype for Business as a self-hosted communications server and by Microsoft Teams as an Azure cloud-hosted collaboration platform. Progent offers remote and on-premises consulting expertise and technical support to help organizations plan and carry out an efficient Skype for Business migration. Progent can also assist your business to upgrade to Microsoft's current cloud-based collaboration solution by providing Microsoft Teams planning and integration support.

The heart of Lync Server's functionality and the key to its business value is that it leverages the collaborative benefits of IM and Presence across common software applications, business activities, and computing devices by providing a centrally managed, highly protected, and easily expanded platform that works with existing IT infrastructure. Lync Server makes IM and Presence capabilities available to everyone from any location through its close integration with familiar software products including Microsoft's Office suite, Exchange, and SharePoint and by supporting Windows, Apple Mac, and Linux desktops as well as BlackBerries, iPhones, Windows Phones and other web-enabled smartphones.

Key Features of Lync Server 2010
Lync Server 2010 offers a rich set of features to deliver a state-of-the-art unified communications solution. In the areas of Presence and IM, Lync Server supports a Presence icon that lets users determine the availability of contacts and start an interaction with one click from within Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or a SharePoint site. Contact information is centrally stored in Exchange to simplify management and maintain consistency, and IM history can be archived for easy recall or auditing. Through Federation, Presence and IM capability can include external Lync Servers and public IM networks. A new Skill Search feature powered by SharePoint allows users to identify and contact experts based on experience, interest, or group membership.

Conferencing functions supported by Lync Server 2010 include one-click conferencing, which allows users to schedule, begin, or join a meeting instantly. A new whiteboarding feature allows conference presenters to create on-the-fly slides and share them in real time. The slides can include charts, drawings, text, or cut-and-paste objects. Desktop and application sharing allows presenters to broadcast selected parts of desktop screens, applications, web pages, and documents, to send keystroke and mouse data, and to delegate control to other conference attendees. Lync Server also allows meetings to be recorded and played back either in their entirety or in selected segments.

Lync Server 2010 allows businesses to create an enterprise-class IP-PBX system that supports features such as click to call, call hold, waiting, transfer, direct to voicemail, and reverse number lookup. Advanced PBX features include IM, rich Presence, video conferencing, automated attendant, multi-media calls, single-number reach, and per-user archiving of incoming and outgoing calls. Close integration with Active Directory and SQL Server support key management functions such as dial plans and call authorization.

How Progent's Microsoft-certified Consultants Can Help You Benefit from Lync Server 2010
Progent's Lync Server 2010 experts can help you evaluate the potential business benefits of Lync Server 2010 in your environment and can assist you to plan and execute a first-time deployment of Microsoft's unified communications technology or migrate smoothly from Microsoft Office Communications Server or Live Communications Server. Progent can also help you assess the feasibility and benefits of utilizing Lync Server 2010 and related technologies to replace your legacy PBX or video conferencing systems or Progent can help you enhance your existing PBX or conferencing environments with IM, Presence, and other advanced capabilities available with Lync Server.

Progent can provide cost-effective online consulting services to integrate Lync Server with your SharePoint, Exchange Server, SQL Server, Active Directory, and Microsoft Office environment, and help you accommodate mobile Lync Server users who by providing services that include iPhone and iPad integration, Android phone and tablet consulting, and RIM BlackBerry expertise.

Progent's Cisco-certified CCIE networking experts can assist your business to plan and manage a connectivity solution that offers the responsiveness and dependability needed for your Lync Server deployment, and Progent's data security consultants can assist you to establish and police security policies for IM and Presence-enabled applications following industry best practices.

Progent's business continuity planning experts can show you how to benefit from Lync Server 2010's support for multi-site deployment in order to build a unified communications environment that can stay available even after the unplanned shutdown of a data center, and Progent's System Center Data Protection Manager consultants can help you design and validate a data backup-and-restore protocol that eliminates or reduces business interruption and loss of data in the case of network, equipment, or software failures or malicious attack.

Progent's Technical Response Center (TRC) can provide on-line support for IT managers responsible for maintaining Lync Server and the TRC also offers Helpdesk services for end users. Progent can train administrators and users to manage and operate Lync Server 2010 and the Lync 2010 client to maximize the business value of Microsoft's IM, Presence, and unified communications technology.

For additional information about Progent's consulting and support services for Lync Server 2010, call 1-800-993-9400 or visit Contact Progent.