Microsoft Lync Server 2013, successor to the Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Suite, introduces a new and efficient way of communicating for businesses. Lync integrates instant messaging, voice, desktop sharing, file transfer, audio, video and webconferencing capabilities in one single interface. Lync integrates with standard Microsoft Office applications, Microsoft SharePoint and – if the necessary adjustments are made – other business applications, such as Microsoft CRM. End-users can then easily check the presence of their contacts from the application.

Federation with the Instant Messaging (IM) environments of other companies – using Lync Online or public IM networks, such as Windows Live – enables extensive collaboration with parties outside the organization. The ability to check the availability of partners and customers online, impacts favorably on response times and productivity.
 
Microsoft Lync 2010 is also a reliable enterprise-grade VoIP solution. Lync functions with the existing internal telephone infrastructure or can replace it completely. For geographically dispersed businesses, using a VOIP solution results in reduced telephone charges for international calls and the online conferencing capabilities of Lync reduce travel costs.

Lync seamlessly integrates with Active Directory, Microsoft Exchange (voicemail) and Microsoft SharePoint. As Lync uses familiar Microsoft management tools (like PowerShell), IT staff can easily manage Lync.

Lync in the cloud

Lync Online is part of Microsoft's Office 365 cloud services program. Customers can subscribe to Lync Online for cloud-based IM, presence and conferencing services. Voice features will be added later, but these will be limited. The cloud-based service does not offer full PBX features either. However, hybrid configurations are possible. For example, the Enterprise Voice workload can be handled by an on-premises Lync environment while the other workloads (IM, conferencing) are handled through Lync online.

Our services

Delaware Consulting offers the following services:

• design, implementation, configuration, rollout and project management for on-premises solutions of Lync Server 2013

• migrations of Office Communications Server

• connectivity between the environment and the public Lync telephone network through Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) trunking and Enterprise Voice end-points (phones), delivered by strategic partners.