Microsoft Lync, Office Communications Server
Microsoft Office Communications Server , also known for its previous name as “Microsoft Lync Server” provide a real time communication server run over server software, it allow it’s user such a infrastructure for enterprise instant messaging, status indicator as presence information , Voice over IP to deliver voice communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol (IP) , Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) connectivity through a third-party gateway , ad hoc and audio video and web base conferences. These features are available within an organization, between organizations and with external users on the public internet or standard phones.
Lync Developments:
Microsoft was announced in early 2013 about Microsoft lync server that it would be able to deliver enterprise voice capabilities to Lync Online in the following year. For the sake of this purpose Microsoft has launched axed Lync Online’s “hybrid voice” feature as a way of getting enterprise voice, citing lack of interest. However, the company indicated that it has partnered with AT&T, BT and Verizon as service providers for delivering enterprise voice capabilities for organizations. Microsoft has announced for further future developments as:
“Most probably in 2014 will bring several features and changes to Lync, including quarterly updates to Lync Online, support for structured meetings and native interoperability with third-party video teleconferencing systems”
One of the Microsoft leads analyst, speculates that Microsoft may be planning a “merged” Lync-Skype client:
“that would enable Microsoft and its customers to support both Lync and Skype services with a single client, at least for basic communications services like those covered by the free Lync Basic and Skype clients today”
Features:
• Lync Server also supports remote users, both corporate users on the Internet
• Microsoft Lync Server uses Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)
• Media is transferred using RTP andSRTP
• communicator client also uses HTTPS to connect with the web components server
• Remote access is possible using the desktop, mobile and web clients.
• Several third parties have incorporated Lync functionality on existing platforms.
• IM is only one portion of the Lync suite major components are VoIP telephony and video conferencing
• HP has implemented OCS on their Halo video conferencing platform
