Microsoft Lync 2010 launched in New Zealand

Microsoft Lync 2010 is comprised of products formerly known as Communications Server, Communications Online and Communicator, as well as Lync Web App and Lync Online. These products include video and audio conferencing, application and desktop sharing, instant messaging and telephony.

Microsoft Lync 2010 offers:

·         Users a single platform that integrates Instant Messaging, Presence, audio, video and web conferencing to streamline communications and productivity

·         Businesses a complete Enterprise Telephony solution that can enhance or replace a traditional PBX system

·         An out-of-the-box integration experience between Lync, SharePoint, Exchange and Office

Microsoft Lync 2010 builds on the Office Communications Server 2007 R2. Some improvements include:

·         A complete communication system, including features like seamless PBX integration capabilities that round out our full enterprise telephony solution

·         A highly integrated experience with Office, SharePoint and Exchange – products businesses  already know and use

·         A sleek new Lync user interface with advanced features like skill expert search, Office document and application sharing. One-click meeting access from Outlook, SharePoint and mobile phones

·         A rich development platform that gives app developers the ability to easily embed communications in any application, along with extensive interoperability capabilities

·         Lync is optimised on a wide variety of low-cost endpoint devices that gives people the flexibility to use Lync anywhere they happen to be; on their computer, on their desk phone and on mobile devices

The Lync Web App is a browser-based application that enables people to either join a meeting through the browser or download the client to their desktop. People who choose to join the meeting through the web app have all the conferencing functionality except for audio – people must download the desktop app to speak and hear (or dial in).

Lync Online is a rich application that includes Instant Messaging, Presence, Web Conferencing and peer-to-peer audio (PC to PC).  It has all of the Lync Server functionality (integration into Office, SharePoint and Exchange) and collaboration tools (desktop sharing, document sharing, whiteboard, etc.).

Microsoft Lync 2010 will be supported on mobile devices and will be available on Windows Phone 7 and iPhone in 2011. It is also accessible on Safari, Firefox and Chrome.

Microsoft Lync 2010 is available as a hosted solution under Office 365, a single cloud service giving users market-leading server capabilities in conjunction with the Office suite.  

Features of Office 365 include:

·         Bringing Office desktop software and Office Web Apps to Microsoft’s business cloud services for the first time

·         Bringing more complete versions of Exchange, SharePoint and Lync and a new platform with single sign in, federated identity and scripting

·          Introducing a new approach with a variety of new plans designed for organisations of all sizes

·         Instant messaging, presence and conferencing are available via Lync Online, and voice capabilities will be added in 2011

The release candidates of Lync 2010 and Lync Server 2010 are available free of charge to all New Zealand businesses and general availability is scheduled for late 2010. Pricing will be available from 1 December 2010.