Microsoft demos new version of Lync

demo

April 1, 2013


“We have a saying at Microsoft,” noted Derek Burney, corporate VP, strategic relations and solutions, Skype division. “You don’t have to go there to be there.” Microsoft hopes that businesses keep that in mind when considering Lync, its unified communications solution.

At a recent Toronto event to celebrate the release of Lync 2013, 250 attendees, including 23 Lync implementation partners, joined Burney and his colleagues to learn more about the latest version of the solution. The 2013 release promises to “put people ahead of technology,” Burney said during his keynote address.

The Microsoft VP also demonstrated a number of new Lync features during his keynote, such as interoperability with Skype. Burney pointed out that over 300 million people around the world use Skype. Companies that use Lync 2010 and 2013 can make phone calls and send instant messages to Skype users. By the second half of this year, Microsoft hopes to enable Lync customers to hold video conversations with those who use Skype. Interoperability allows Lync users to reach out to the vast Skype community without sacrificing security. Burney stressed that Lync connects to Skype within a secure interface, so Lync customers are not at additional risk for viruses or malware.

Another selling point that Burney showed the audience was Lync’s consistent user experience across devices and platforms. Lync runs on Windows, Android and iOS devices. Burney remarked that Microsoft maintained the look and feel of the UC solution across platforms while making the user interface familiar to the device. For example, on Android devices, Lync’s buttons are in the same place as they would be when a user makes a normal phone call. Burney explained that Lync’s iPad interface takes advantage of its larger screen to display greater detail in the user directory. He added that iPad users can share content during Lync conversations as well.

Burney also touched on Lync’s web app. The application lets people outside an organization join Lync conversations through their browser. PC and Mac users click on a link sent by a Lync customer, and a window will pop up that lets them participate in the call. These users can view high definition video, send instant messages, share their desktops, application and PowerPoint presentations and speak to other participants through a VoIP connection. The “one click join” feature eliminates the need for a conference bridge number and a passcode. Lync’s web app also means people outside the company do not need to download any software in order to take part in a Lync conversation. All they need is an HTML5-enabled browser and a microphone.

While Lync customers can access the UC solution on their mobile device or desktop, Burney noted that some organizations prefer to hold video conferences on conference room systems. Lync can run on room systems as well as on “smart” whiteboards. Burney demonstrated how users can split a screen so they can present materials on a whiteboard. Remote conversation participants do not have to feel as though they are missing out on the experience; they can share, annotate and edit materials on the whiteboard even if they are not in the room. Burney commented that when businesspeople share materials on a whiteboard, they generally need to take a photo of the board and email it to the other participants. Lync allows them to perform a screen capture of the “smart” board and send the image to others. Microsoft will be working with partners such as Canadian SMART Technologies, to deploy Lync on “smart” whiteboards.

Another of Microsoft’s Canadian partners also had a moment in the spotlight. Larry Baldachin, SVP, business segment, Rogers, announced that Microsoft has certified the wireless company for SIP trunking, a VoIP and streaming media service based on session initiation protocol. Session initiation protocol controls voice and video calls made over an IP network. This certification signals a deepening of the partnership between the two companies. “We’re invested heavily in this,” Baldachin said. “Lync is part of our broader enterprise strategy.” Baldachin added that Rogers will not only help its customers implement Lync, it will also be deploying the UC solution within its own call centres and for its technical support staff.

Although this is the second version of Lync, this event marks the first time Microsoft has held a customer and partner conference for its UC solution. Toronto was the only Canadian stop on the software’s global tour. As Lync’s partner implementation partner ecosystem expands, especially in Canada, this might not be the last time Lync takes centre stage. Microsoft spokespeople hinted that the Lync conference might be coming back next year, too.


By: Rachel Levy Sarfin