Microsoft Office Live Communications Server
Encyclopedia
Microsoft Lync Server is an enterprise real-time communications server, providing the infrastructure for enterprise instant messaging
, presence
, file transfer
, peer-to-peer
and multiparty voice and video calling, ad hoc and structured conferences (audio, video and web
) and, through a 3rd party gateway or SIP trunk, PSTN
connectivity. These features are available within an organization, between organizations, and with external users on the public internet
, or standard phones, on the PSTN
as well as SIP
trunking.
Other client software and devices include:
and presence
within a single organization. This includes support for rich presence information, file transfer, instant messaging as well as voice and video communication. (These latter features are often not possible even within a single organization using public IM clients, due to the effects of negotiating the corporate firewall and network address translation
). Lync uses Interactive Connectivity Establishment
for NAT
traversal and TLS
encryption
to enable secure voice and video both inside and outside the corporate network.
Lync Server also supports remote users, both corporate users on the internet (e.g. mobile or home workers) as well as users in partner companies. Lync supports "federation
" - enabling interoperability with other corporate IM networks. Federation can be configured either manually (where each partner manually configures the relevant edge servers in the other organisation) or automaticall (using the appropriate SRV records in the DNS
).
Microsoft Lync Server uses Session Initiation Protocol
(SIP) for signaling along with the SIMPLE
extensions to SIP
for IM and presence. Media is transferred using RTP
/SRTP
. The Live Meeting client uses PSOM to download meeting content. The Communicator client also uses HTTPS to connect with the web components server to download address books, expand distribution lists, etc. By default, Office Communications Server encrypts all signaling and media traffic using SIP over TLS
and SRTP. There is one exception to this - traffic between the Mediation Server and a basic media gateway is carried as SIP over TCP
and RTP. However, if a hybrid gateway is leveraged, such as one from Microsoft's Open Interoperability Site, then in fact everything is encrypted from all points if (SSL certificates are configured on the gateway and TLS elected as the transmission type).
IM is only one portion of the Lync suite. The other major components are VOIP telephony and video conferencing through the desktop communicator client. Remote access is possible using mobile and web clients.
Several third parties have incorporated Lync functionality on existing platforms. HP has implemented OCS on their Halo video conferencing platform.
Microsoft released Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 in February 2009. The R2 release added the following features:
s for conferences and voice. These features can help provide compliance with legal requirements for many organizations. The Archiving server is not an overall end-to-end compliance solution, as archiving requires you to install the Archiving Server and to configure front end servers accordingly.
, .NET Messenger Service
, Yahoo! Messenger
, and Google Talk
. PIC was first introduced with Service Pack
1 for Live Communications Server 2005, PIC is licensed separately for Yahoo, but is free for AOL and Messenger service for customers with Software Assurance.
See the external user access capabilities by user type in Microsoft Lync
The ejabberd
XMPP
server has a bridge that enable federation with OCS servers, without gateways (transports).
, a multi-protocol instant messenger client which runs under Microsoft Windows as well as on Linux
, supports a third-party plugin implementing the extended version of SIP/SIMPLE
(text only).
Instant Messenger Service that had been included in Exchange 2000, but which was removed from the Exchange 2003 feature set. Holders of Exchange 2000 licenses which include Software Assurance
are entitled to receive Live Communications Server
as an upgrade, along with Exchange 2003; however, Live Communications Server Client Access License
s must be purchased as normal for new users.
OCS R2 was announced at VoiceCon in Amsterdam in October 2008, just 364 days after releasing Office Communications Server 2007. This version has major advantages over the original solution and positioned Microsoft firmly in place to be a major player in IP telephony and video (telepresence).
New call management capabilities let receptionists and team assistants take a large volume of incoming calls and quickly route them to the intended recipients with a simple click, while delegation features allow executives to completely hand over the management of their phone calls to their assistants. New desktop-sharing capabilities allow users on Windows, Macintosh, and Linux platforms to collaborate with one another at the same time they talk to each other using enhanced audio conferencing features. The Group Chat feature lets organizations set up searchable, topic-based chat rooms that persist over time, allowing geographically distributed teams to better collaborate with one another while preserving organizational knowledge.
Interestingly, all of these features are covered under a single license per user through the Enterprise Client Access License (ECAL) from Microsoft. This is dramatically different than traditional telephony and VoIP vendors who charge for additional clients, endpoints, and interfaces into the communications system.
The improved on-premise audioconferencing capability puts enterprises in control of their audioconferencing infrastructure while saving money on audioconferencing costs over hosted bridges. The Single Number Reach feature allows IT to log business calls placed by users from cellular phones for accounting purposes while helping to ensure that the same dialing rules that apply to calls made by users from their work phone also extend to their cellular calls. The new video monitoring capabilities allow IT to monitor the quality of video calls and conferences on their network, while support for SIP-trunking does away with the need to manage expensive on-premise gateways. Video in OCS is also interoperable with third party solutions such as Tandberg and PolyCom systems as well (Polycom has not yet provided its connector with new Microsoft Lync 2010). This means that customers can keep their existing investment in these systems, but extend video to the desktop via Office Communications Server.
One of the biggest advantages of having a software-based communications infrastructure is that businesses can embed communications capabilities into existing line-of-business applications and use communications and workflow capabilities to automate business processes, which saves money, saves time, and improves customer service. Office Communications Server 2007 R2 delivers an extensible communications platform that works with an organization’s existing messaging and telephony infrastructure and can adapt to changing business needs. This extensibility is one of the major reasons that Gartner has placed Microsoft at the top of their Unified Communications Magic Quadrant for 2007, 2008 and 2009.
In instant messaging
, the free public instant messaging networks (Google, Live Messenger, Yahoo and AOL) are widely used and represent a degree of competition. There have been attempts by other vendors at providing solutions such as Yahoo!
's Enterprise Instant Messenger; however these attempts have been largely unsuccessful. An ICQ
corporate client and server option once existed, but it is no longer supported or developed.
Products such as Cisco Unified Presence Server (Version 6.0.2+) support federation with Microsoft Office Communication Server 2007 to provide presence of Cisco IP phones and remote call control of the IP phone from the Microsoft Office Communicator client.
The Siemens OpenScape solution offers a federation with the Office communicator, and also an integration into the office communicator, allowing to use the standard functionalities of the office communication suite together with the SIP based voice functionalities of the Siemens platform.
The Asterisk telephone platform supports SIP, IAX, and ISDN connections. Most telephones that support these protocols may be used with Asterisk, including software phone clients.
Instant messaging
Instant Messaging is a form of real-time direct text-based chatting communication in push mode between two or more people using personal computers or other devices, along with shared clients. The user's text is conveyed over a network, such as the Internet...
, presence
Presence information
In computer and telecommunications networks, presence information is a status indicator that conveys ability and willingness of a potential communication partner—for example a user--to communicate...
, file transfer
File transfer
File transfer is a generic term for the act of transmitting files over a computer network or the Internet. There are numerous ways and protocols to transfer files over a network. Computers which provide a file transfer service are often called file servers. Depending on the client's perspective the...
, peer-to-peer
Peer-to-peer
Peer-to-peer computing or networking is a distributed application architecture that partitions tasks or workloads among peers. Peers are equally privileged, equipotent participants in the application...
and multiparty voice and video calling, ad hoc and structured conferences (audio, video and web
Web conferencing
Web conferencing refers to a service that allows conferencing events to be shared with remote locations. Most vendors also provide either a recorded copy of an event, or a means for a subscriber to record an event. The service allows information to be shared simultaneously, across geographically...
) and, through a 3rd party gateway or SIP trunk, PSTN
Public switched telephone network
The public switched telephone network is the network of the world's public circuit-switched telephone networks. It consists of telephone lines, fiber optic cables, microwave transmission links, cellular networks, communications satellites, and undersea telephone cables, all inter-connected by...
connectivity. These features are available within an organization, between organizations, and with external users on the public internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
, or standard phones, on the PSTN
Public switched telephone network
The public switched telephone network is the network of the world's public circuit-switched telephone networks. It consists of telephone lines, fiber optic cables, microwave transmission links, cellular networks, communications satellites, and undersea telephone cables, all inter-connected by...
as well as SIP
Session Initiation Protocol
The Session Initiation Protocol is an IETF-defined signaling protocol widely used for controlling communication sessions such as voice and video calls over Internet Protocol . The protocol can be used for creating, modifying and terminating two-party or multiparty sessions...
trunking.
Client software and devices
Microsoft Lync is the primary client application released with Lync Server. This client is used for IM, presence, voice and video calls, desktop sharing, file transfer and ad hoc conferences. Microsoft also ships the Microsoft Attendant Console. This is a version of the Lync more oriented towards receptionists or delegates / secretaries or others who get a large volume of inbound calls.Other client software and devices include:
- Lync Communicator Mobile is a Mobile edition of the Lync Server 2010 client and designed to offer similar functionality including voice calls, instant messaging, presence and single number reachability. Clients for all major platforms including the IPhone are being developed
- Lync Communicator Web Access is a web instant messaging and presence client. This version works as well on IE, Firefox and Opera browsers.
- Microsoft RoundTableMicrosoft RoundTableMicrosoft RoundTable was a videoconferencing device with a 360-degree camera that was designed to work with Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 or Microsoft Office Live Meeting. RoundTable provided remote meeting participants with panoramic video of everyone sitting around the conference...
is an audio and video conferencing device that provides a 360-degree view of the conference room and tracks the various speakers. This device is now produced and sold via PolycomPolycomPolycom is a multinational corporation with approximately 3,200 employees worldwide and an annual revenue of approximately $1.2 billion in 2010. The company manufactures and sells telepresence and voice communications solutions.-Company History 1990:...
under the product name CX5000.
- LG-Nortel and Polycom also make IP phones in a traditional phone form factor that operate an embedded edition of Office Communicator 2007. The physical plastic phones as referred by Microsoft are also named Tanjay Phones.
- IP Desk Phones 'Optimized for Lync': Powered by Lync Phone Edition these phones have full support to PBX functionalities, access to calendar and contacts, rich conferencing, extended functionalities when connected to the PC, and integrated security and manageability. Built from the ground up for Lync, these phones come in different models designed to meet specific business needs, including a rich information worker experience, a basic desk phone, common area phone, or conference room phone. Aastra and other vendors offer IP Desk Phones Optimized for Microsoft Lync.
Features
One basic use of Lync Server is instant messagingInstant messaging
Instant Messaging is a form of real-time direct text-based chatting communication in push mode between two or more people using personal computers or other devices, along with shared clients. The user's text is conveyed over a network, such as the Internet...
and presence
Presence information
In computer and telecommunications networks, presence information is a status indicator that conveys ability and willingness of a potential communication partner—for example a user--to communicate...
within a single organization. This includes support for rich presence information, file transfer, instant messaging as well as voice and video communication. (These latter features are often not possible even within a single organization using public IM clients, due to the effects of negotiating the corporate firewall and network address translation
Network address translation
In computer networking, network address translation is the process of modifying IP address information in IP packet headers while in transit across a traffic routing device....
). Lync uses Interactive Connectivity Establishment
Interactive Connectivity Establishment
Interactive Connectivity Establishment is a technique used in computer networking involving network address translators in Internet applications of Voice over Internet Protocol , peer-to-peer communications, video, instant messaging and other interactive media...
for NAT
Nat
Nat or NAT may refer to:* Nat., an abbreviation for Natural* Nat , a Burmese spirit worshipped in Myanmar in conjunction with Buddhism...
traversal and TLS
Transport Layer Security
Transport Layer Security and its predecessor, Secure Sockets Layer , are cryptographic protocols that provide communication security over the Internet...
encryption
Encryption
In cryptography, encryption is the process of transforming information using an algorithm to make it unreadable to anyone except those possessing special knowledge, usually referred to as a key. The result of the process is encrypted information...
to enable secure voice and video both inside and outside the corporate network.
Lync Server also supports remote users, both corporate users on the internet (e.g. mobile or home workers) as well as users in partner companies. Lync supports "federation
Federated identity
A federated identity in information technology is the means of linking a person's electronic identity and attributes, stored across multiple distinct identity management systems....
" - enabling interoperability with other corporate IM networks. Federation can be configured either manually (where each partner manually configures the relevant edge servers in the other organisation) or automaticall (using the appropriate SRV records in the DNS
Domain name system
The Domain Name System is a hierarchical distributed naming system for computers, services, or any resource connected to the Internet or a private network. It associates various information with domain names assigned to each of the participating entities...
).
Microsoft Lync Server uses Session Initiation Protocol
Session Initiation Protocol
The Session Initiation Protocol is an IETF-defined signaling protocol widely used for controlling communication sessions such as voice and video calls over Internet Protocol . The protocol can be used for creating, modifying and terminating two-party or multiparty sessions...
(SIP) for signaling along with the SIMPLE
SIMPLE
SIMPLE, the Session Initiation Protocol for Instant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions, is an instant messaging and presence protocol suite based on Session Initiation Protocol managed by the IETF...
extensions to SIP
Session Initiation Protocol
The Session Initiation Protocol is an IETF-defined signaling protocol widely used for controlling communication sessions such as voice and video calls over Internet Protocol . The protocol can be used for creating, modifying and terminating two-party or multiparty sessions...
for IM and presence. Media is transferred using RTP
Real-time Transport Protocol
The Real-time Transport Protocol defines a standardized packet format for delivering audio and video over IP networks. RTP is used extensively in communication and entertainment systems that involve streaming media, such as telephony, video teleconference applications, television services and...
/SRTP
Secure Real-time Transport Protocol
The Secure Real-time Transport Protocol defines a profile of RTP , intended to provide encryption, message authentication and integrity, and replay protection to the RTP data in both unicast and multicast applications...
. The Live Meeting client uses PSOM to download meeting content. The Communicator client also uses HTTPS to connect with the web components server to download address books, expand distribution lists, etc. By default, Office Communications Server encrypts all signaling and media traffic using SIP over TLS
Transport Layer Security
Transport Layer Security and its predecessor, Secure Sockets Layer , are cryptographic protocols that provide communication security over the Internet...
and SRTP. There is one exception to this - traffic between the Mediation Server and a basic media gateway is carried as SIP over TCP
Transmission Control Protocol
The Transmission Control Protocol is one of the core protocols of the Internet Protocol Suite. TCP is one of the two original components of the suite, complementing the Internet Protocol , and therefore the entire suite is commonly referred to as TCP/IP...
and RTP. However, if a hybrid gateway is leveraged, such as one from Microsoft's Open Interoperability Site, then in fact everything is encrypted from all points if (SSL certificates are configured on the gateway and TLS elected as the transmission type).
IM is only one portion of the Lync suite. The other major components are VOIP telephony and video conferencing through the desktop communicator client. Remote access is possible using mobile and web clients.
Several third parties have incorporated Lync functionality on existing platforms. HP has implemented OCS on their Halo video conferencing platform.
Microsoft released Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 in February 2009. The R2 release added the following features:
- Dial-in audioconferencing
- Desktop sharing
- Persistent Group Chat
- Attendant console and delegation
- Session Initiation Protocol trunking
- Mobility and single-number reach
Compliance
Lync Server also has the capability to log and archive all instant message traffic passing through the server and to create Call Detail RecordCall detail record
A call detail record , also known as call data record, is a data record produced by a telephone exchange or other telecommunications equipment documenting the details of a phone call that passed through the facility or device...
s for conferences and voice. These features can help provide compliance with legal requirements for many organizations. The Archiving server is not an overall end-to-end compliance solution, as archiving requires you to install the Archiving Server and to configure front end servers accordingly.
Public IM Connectivity (PIC)
Lync Server also enables organizations to interoperate with four external IM services: AOL Instant MessengerAOL Instant Messenger
AOL Instant Messenger is an instant messaging and presence computer program which uses the proprietary OSCAR instant messaging protocol and the TOC protocol to allow registered users to communicate in real time. It was released by AOL in May 1997...
, .NET Messenger Service
.NET Messenger Service
The .NET Messenger Service is an instant messaging and presence system developed by Microsoft in 1999 for use with its MSN Messenger software and used today by its current instant messaging clients, Windows Live Messenger and Microsoft Messenger for Mac...
, Yahoo! Messenger
Yahoo! Messenger
Yahoo! Messenger is an advertisement-supported instant messaging client and associated protocol provided by Yahoo!...
, and Google Talk
Google Talk
Google Talk is a freeware voice over Internet protocol client application offered by Google Inc. The first beta version of the program was released on August 24, 2005...
. PIC was first introduced with Service Pack
Service pack
A service pack is a collection of updates, fixes or enhancements to a software program delivered in the form of a single installable package. Many companies, such as Microsoft or Autodesk, typically release a service pack when the number of individual patches to a given program reaches a certain ...
1 for Live Communications Server 2005, PIC is licensed separately for Yahoo, but is free for AOL and Messenger service for customers with Software Assurance.
See the external user access capabilities by user type in Microsoft Lync
XMPP
Lync Server has an XMPP gateway server to federate with external XMPP servers.The ejabberd
Ejabberd
ejabberd is an XMPP application server, written mainly in the Erlang programming language.It can run under several Unix-like operating systems such as Mac OS X, GNU/Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD and OpenSolaris...
XMPP
Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol
Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol is an open-standard communications protocol for message-oriented middleware based on XML . The protocol was originally named Jabber, and was developed by the Jabber open-source community in 1999 for near-real-time, extensible instant messaging , presence...
server has a bridge that enable federation with OCS servers, without gateways (transports).
Pidgin supports OCS for Linux clients
PidginPidgin (software)
Pidgin is an open-source multi-platform instant messaging client, based on a library named libpurple. Libpurple has support for many commonly used instant messaging protocols, allowing the user to log into various services from one application.The number of Pidgin users was estimated to be over 3...
, a multi-protocol instant messenger client which runs under Microsoft Windows as well as on Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
, supports a third-party plugin implementing the extended version of SIP/SIMPLE
SIMPLE
SIMPLE, the Session Initiation Protocol for Instant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions, is an instant messaging and presence protocol suite based on Session Initiation Protocol managed by the IETF...
(text only).
Previous versions
- 2009 - Office Communications Server 2007 R2
- 2007 - Office Communications Server 2007
- 2006 - Live Communications Server 2005Live Communications Server 2005Live Communications Server 2005 , codenamed Vienna, is the second version of a SIP based instant messaging and presence server after Live Communications Server 2003. LCS 2005 was first released in 2005, and was updated with new features with Service Pack 1 in 2006...
with SP1 - 2005 - Live Communications Server 2005, codenamed Vienna
- 2003 - Live Communications Server 2003
History
When Microsoft Office Live Communications Server was originally launched on 29 December 2003, it replaced the ExchangeMicrosoft Exchange Server
Microsoft Exchange Server is the server side of a client–server, collaborative application product developed by Microsoft. It is part of the Microsoft Servers line of server products and is used by enterprises using Microsoft infrastructure products...
Instant Messenger Service that had been included in Exchange 2000, but which was removed from the Exchange 2003 feature set. Holders of Exchange 2000 licenses which include Software Assurance
Microsoft Software Assurance
Microsoft Software Assurance is a Microsoft maintenance program aimed at business users who use Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, and other server and desktop applications...
are entitled to receive Live Communications Server
Microsoft Office Live Communications Server
Microsoft Lync Server is an enterprise real-time communications server, providing the infrastructure for enterprise instant messaging, presence, file transfer, peer-to-peer and multiparty voice and video calling, ad hoc and structured conferences and, through a 3rd party gateway or SIP trunk, PSTN...
as an upgrade, along with Exchange 2003; however, Live Communications Server Client Access License
Client Access License
A Client Access License is a proprietary software license distributed by software companies such as Microsoft to allow clients to connect to its server software and use the software's services.-Software licensing introduction:...
s must be purchased as normal for new users.
OCS R2 was announced at VoiceCon in Amsterdam in October 2008, just 364 days after releasing Office Communications Server 2007. This version has major advantages over the original solution and positioned Microsoft firmly in place to be a major player in IP telephony and video (telepresence).
New call management capabilities let receptionists and team assistants take a large volume of incoming calls and quickly route them to the intended recipients with a simple click, while delegation features allow executives to completely hand over the management of their phone calls to their assistants. New desktop-sharing capabilities allow users on Windows, Macintosh, and Linux platforms to collaborate with one another at the same time they talk to each other using enhanced audio conferencing features. The Group Chat feature lets organizations set up searchable, topic-based chat rooms that persist over time, allowing geographically distributed teams to better collaborate with one another while preserving organizational knowledge.
Interestingly, all of these features are covered under a single license per user through the Enterprise Client Access License (ECAL) from Microsoft. This is dramatically different than traditional telephony and VoIP vendors who charge for additional clients, endpoints, and interfaces into the communications system.
The improved on-premise audioconferencing capability puts enterprises in control of their audioconferencing infrastructure while saving money on audioconferencing costs over hosted bridges. The Single Number Reach feature allows IT to log business calls placed by users from cellular phones for accounting purposes while helping to ensure that the same dialing rules that apply to calls made by users from their work phone also extend to their cellular calls. The new video monitoring capabilities allow IT to monitor the quality of video calls and conferences on their network, while support for SIP-trunking does away with the need to manage expensive on-premise gateways. Video in OCS is also interoperable with third party solutions such as Tandberg and PolyCom systems as well (Polycom has not yet provided its connector with new Microsoft Lync 2010). This means that customers can keep their existing investment in these systems, but extend video to the desktop via Office Communications Server.
One of the biggest advantages of having a software-based communications infrastructure is that businesses can embed communications capabilities into existing line-of-business applications and use communications and workflow capabilities to automate business processes, which saves money, saves time, and improves customer service. Office Communications Server 2007 R2 delivers an extensible communications platform that works with an organization’s existing messaging and telephony infrastructure and can adapt to changing business needs. This extensibility is one of the major reasons that Gartner has placed Microsoft at the top of their Unified Communications Magic Quadrant for 2007, 2008 and 2009.
Competition
Competitors to Lync Server include:- 3CX Phone System3CX Phone System3CX Phone System is a software based private branch exchange based on the SIP standard. It enables extensions to make calls via the public switched telephone network or via Voice over Internet Protocol services....
; 3CX Phone System for Windows is a software-based IP PBX - Alceo's BCS Communicator
- Asterisk (PBX)Asterisk (PBX)Asterisk is a software implementation of a telephone private branch exchange ; it was created in 1999 by Mark Spencer of Digium. Like any PBX, it allows attached telephones to make calls to one another, and to connect to other telephone services including the public switched telephone network and...
Platform - SIPSession Initiation ProtocolThe Session Initiation Protocol is an IETF-defined signaling protocol widely used for controlling communication sessions such as voice and video calls over Internet Protocol . The protocol can be used for creating, modifying and terminating two-party or multiparty sessions...
, ISDN, IAXIAXIAX is the Inter-Asterisk eXchange protocol native to Asterisk PBX and supported by a number of other softswitches and PBXs. It is used for enabling VoIP connections between servers beside client–server communication....
, SMSSMSSMS is a form of text messaging communication on phones and mobile phones. The terms SMS or sms may also refer to:- Computer hardware :...
, open source telephone system - AT&T UC and SIP Services
- Avaya Aura (tm) Presence Services (with Messaging) and one-X software
- Cisco's Unified Presence Server and Unified Personal Communicator
- ejabberdEjabberdejabberd is an XMPP application server, written mainly in the Erlang programming language.It can run under several Unix-like operating systems such as Mac OS X, GNU/Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD and OpenSolaris...
- eZuce openUC Enterprise
- IBM's Lotus SametimeLotus SametimeIBM Sametime is a client–server application and middleware platform that provides real-time, unified communications and collaboration for enterprises. Those capabilities include presence information, enterprise instant messaging, web conferencing, community collaboration, and telephony capabilities...
- Jabber XCP (from Jabber, Inc., not to be confused with the IETF open standardOpen standardAn open standard is a standard that is publicly available and has various rights to use associated with it, and may also have various properties of how it was designed . There is no single definition and interpretations vary with usage....
XMPPExtensible Messaging and Presence ProtocolExtensible Messaging and Presence Protocol is an open-standard communications protocol for message-oriented middleware based on XML . The protocol was originally named Jabber, and was developed by the Jabber open-source community in 1999 for near-real-time, extensible instant messaging , presence...
) - iChat Server (see Mac OS X ServerMac OS X ServerMac OS X Server is a Unix server operating system from Apple Inc. The server edition of Mac OS X is architecturally identical to its desktop counterpart, except that it includes work group management and administration software tools...
) - NEC's UCB and UCE
- Openfire
- ShoreTelShoreTelShoreTel is a company based in Sunnyvale, CA. They are a provider of commercial, closed-source VoIP products. Current implementations of ShoreTel systems include telephone handsets, as well as voicemail servers, switching hardware, analog phone outputs, and other telecommunications-related...
- Siemens' OpenScape
- sipXecsSipXsipXecs is an open source voice over IP telephony server. Its main feature is a software implementation of the Session Initiation Protocol , which makes it an IP based communications system . Featurewise, it is not unlike Asterisk, a very popular open source PBX, but the design of sipXecs deviates...
- Sun Java System Instant Messaging (see Sun Java Communications Suite)
- TigaseTigaseTigase is an open source project started by Artur Hefczyc in October 2004 to develop XMPP server implementation in Java.Initially the goal was to develop fully compliant XMPP server with backward compatibility with informal XMPP specification...
In instant messaging
Instant messaging
Instant Messaging is a form of real-time direct text-based chatting communication in push mode between two or more people using personal computers or other devices, along with shared clients. The user's text is conveyed over a network, such as the Internet...
, the free public instant messaging networks (Google, Live Messenger, Yahoo and AOL) are widely used and represent a degree of competition. There have been attempts by other vendors at providing solutions such as Yahoo!
Yahoo!
Yahoo! Inc. is an American multinational internet corporation headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, United States. The company is perhaps best known for its web portal, search engine , Yahoo! Directory, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Groups, Yahoo! Answers, advertising, online mapping ,...
's Enterprise Instant Messenger; however these attempts have been largely unsuccessful. An ICQ
ICQ
ICQ is an instant messaging computer program, which was first developed and popularized by the Israeli company Mirabilis, then bought by America Online, and since April 2010 owned by Mail.ru Group. The name ICQ is a homophone for the phrase "I seek you"...
corporate client and server option once existed, but it is no longer supported or developed.
Products such as Cisco Unified Presence Server (Version 6.0.2+) support federation with Microsoft Office Communication Server 2007 to provide presence of Cisco IP phones and remote call control of the IP phone from the Microsoft Office Communicator client.
The Siemens OpenScape solution offers a federation with the Office communicator, and also an integration into the office communicator, allowing to use the standard functionalities of the office communication suite together with the SIP based voice functionalities of the Siemens platform.
The Asterisk telephone platform supports SIP, IAX, and ISDN connections. Most telephones that support these protocols may be used with Asterisk, including software phone clients.
See also
- Microsoft OfficeMicrosoft OfficeMicrosoft Office is a non-free commercial office suite of inter-related desktop applications, servers and services for the Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems, introduced by Microsoft in August 1, 1989. Initially a marketing term for a bundled set of applications, the first version of...
- Windows Server SystemWindows Server SystemMicrosoft Servers is a brand that encompasses a line of Microsoft server products. This includes the server editions of Microsoft Windows operating system itself, as well as products targeted at the wider business market...
- Microsoft Office Communicator (2007)
- Cisco Unified Communications Manager
- Nortel Communication Server 2100Nortel Communication Server 2100The Avaya Communication Server 2100 or CS-2100 in computer networking, telecomunications and IP telephony is a carrier grade, IP soft switch or VoIP server solution for large campus and geographically dispersed large enterprises...
- LG-Nortel IP Phone 8540
- Comparison of office suites
- List of Microsoft–Nortel Innovative Communications Alliance products
External links
- Microsoft Lync (official site)
- Microsoft Office Communications Server (official site)
- LCS feature comparison
- LCS Developer Portal
- (OCSPedia) Step by Step : Microsoft Lync Server 2010
- LCS Developer articles Customer Case Study
- Factors to consider when deploying Microsoft's Office Communications Server (OCS) 2007
- Innovative Communications Alliance (Nortel – Microsoft)
- InsideOCS.com - Practical real-world information, tips, and insight into deploying and using Office Communications Server
- Lync Server 2010 Administrator Training
- (OCSPedia) Microsoft Lync Server 2010 Administrators Website