Polycom Announces New Strategic Relationship with Microsoft for End-to-End Unified Communications.

See the Polycom Press Release http://www.polycom.com/company/news_room/press_releases/2010/20100809.html

And this video this video

Product Development

The roadmap entails Polycom developing a broad base of solutions for Microsoft Communications Server “14” and beyond, including:

· New and next-generation Polycom CX series endpoints optimized for Microsoft UC, featuring Polycom’s market-leading HD video and voice technologies

· New, innovative room-based video systems designed specifically for enabling direct integration with Microsoft Communications Server “14”

· Additional interoperable solutions between Polycom’s existing and future video conferencing solutions

Network Equipment Technologies Acquires "SmartSIP" Product Line From Evangelyze Communications

get the press info here

Source for this information

No excuse for not buying Certified devices

Okay with some of the last releases from certified device vendors there is no excuse for not buying certified devices.

And one of the reasons for not going on OCS with Voice (price on new device) is significant lower now than it was , and I think it might be even lower in 2010.    

Find all certified devices here

Example on price:

Plantronics .Audio 615M  http://www.voipsupply.com/plantronics-audio-615m-headset $37.70

 

Jabra Biz 620 Mono ttp://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?sku=A3013871&cs=04&c=us&l=en&dgc=SS&cid=39888&lid=1022050  $44.99

 

And remember you can still give the “I need my old phone user” this “IPT look a like” usb phone and still get all the OCS features: http://www.polycom.com/products/voice/desktop_solutions/microsoft_optimized_devices/communicator_cx300.html

And while we wait for OCS wave 14 (the real replacement of the PBX/IPT)  have a look at Voipnorm opinion on UC devices here

Update to: Unified Communications Phones and Peripherals Datasheet

The datasheet provides the following information about each device:

• A thumbnail photo of the device
• Hardware type
• Name of the partner that produces the device
• Product name
• A brief description of the device
• URL for the partner's Unified Communications landing page

Communicator for Iphone or Ipod

What is iDialog?

Microsoft Office Communications Server is revolutionizing the way workers communicate and collaborate.

iDialog is an exclusive product from Modality Systems that enables users to find and communicate with their Microsoft Office Communications Server (OCS) contacts using Apple iPhone or iPod Touch devices.

iDialog supports the following features:

• Display OCS contact list and presence information
• Set presence information, including custom note and location data
• Search corporate Global Address List (GAL)
• Send and receive Instant Messages (IM)
• Add multiple participants to an IM conversation
• Manage and participate in multiple IM conversations simultaneously
• Control incoming OCS Voice calls (forward/redirect an incoming OCS call to another device, such as an iPhone, voice mailbox, or another phone number)
• Call a phone number listed on a contact card (This feature is not available on iPod Touch devices)
  Send an email to an address listed on a contact card

Deployment Requirements

iDialog is supported on Apple iPhone and iPod Touch versions 2.0 and higher. The user must also have an account that can sign-in to a corporate or hosted OCS 2007 or 2007 R2 system. An OCS Communicator Web Access (CWA) Server must be deployed to support iDialog connectivity. No proprietary server infrastructure is required.

get more info:

http://www.modalitysystems.com/blog/?p=92

and

http://www.modalitysystems.com/idialog/

Action! LifeCam Cinema Introduces 720p HD Widescreen Video

REDMOND, Wash. Aug. 20, 2009 Widescreen technology is everywhere these days, built into virtually every new notebook, desktop monitor and flat-panel TV,¹ and today Microsoft Hardware sets a new standard for webcams with the launch of LifeCam Cinema, the first consumer webcam on the PC to offer widescreen video with a native 720p sensor.² The timing couldn’t be better, with more and more people going online to share videos with friends and family; in fact, more than 10 million videos are uploaded each month to Facebook alone.³ LifeCam Cinema webcam’s 720p widescreen sensor will deliver clear, quality videos — without leaving anyone out of the shot.

* Basic Video & Audio Functionality with Windows Live™ Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger,Skype, QQ and Microsoft® Office Communicator.

More info: http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/digitalcommunication/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=008

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2009/aug09/08-20cinemapr.mspx

New device :OCS Device CX300 from Polycom

Okay new rumors :) in my old blog regarding this device and on this picture it has a display, to my knowledge the new CX300 won’t have a display but the number keypad is included and it will be USB connected.

Released (Q3 2009), hope I can get one for test :)

Polycom is planning to release more OCS devices ethernet-connected CXxxx in Q1 2010.

Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Client and Devices Technical Reference

Quick Details

File Name:
OCS 2007 R2 Technical Reference for Clients.doc

Version:
1.0

Date Published:
7/30/2009

Language:
English

Download Size:
1.1 MB

get it here

Unified Communications Phones and Peripherals Datasheet

Communicator 2007, delivering communications solutions that are easy to deploy, use and manage.
The datasheet provides the following information about each device:

• A thumbnail photo of the device
• Hardware type
• Name of the partner that produces the device
• Product name
• A brief description of the device
• URL for the partner's Unified Communications landing page

New stuff like Lenovo laptops are incl.

get it here

Office Communicator Phone Edition (2007 R2) (update 6907.31)

• Single sign-in. Users can now connect their Office Communicator Phone Edition phone to their computer with a USB cable and sign in to both their phone and Office Communicator 2007 R2 at the same time.
• Integration with Office Communicator 2007 R2 on the PC. Users can now click a contact or phone number in their Office Communicator 2007 R2 contact list on their PC to place a call using their Office Communicator Phone Edition phone. Call controls are synchronized on both the phone and Office Communicator on the PC. If their PC is configured with a webcam, users can escalate the call by adding video.
• Support for new Office Communications Server 2007 R2 voice features. New call delegation, team calling and Response Group service functionality in Office Communications Server 2007 R2 are also supported in Office Communicator Phone Edition.
• Audio quality enhancements. Latency, audio quality and call setup time have all been improved.
• User interface enhancements. The user interface has been improved and streamlined. For example, a Redial button enables users to easily redial the last dialed number, searching through the corporate directory is easier, and users can select from one of four ring tones.
• Office Live Meeting support. Users can now use their Office Communicator Phone Edition phone as an audio device in Office Live Meeting.

Get more info (and my source) here

Phones and Devices Optimized for Microsoft Office Communicator

There is a lot of devices for OCS right now, and I have tested a lot of them, and must say that the ones i have tested are working fine, But some of the headset that can connects to both your PC and your mobile phone, some of my customers having some minor problem getting this “dual mode” working every time. (yes, I like cabel connected devices) and please don’t use Non certified devices, you will only get unsatisfied users

One device I like to see is a wireless DECT device, i know that COMO is for mobile users and you need PC software based Voip like Communicator, but in some companies you need this wireless DECT phone, and they are out there, but only working with SIP trunk against a PBX or voice gateway, but then you won’t have presence information. This needs to be a OCS endpoint.

I like to see GN DIAL 520 OC USB phone or Plantronics Audio 1100M Phone as Wireless DECT OCS endpoint :)

Link to all the certified communications devices

New devices: CHAT 170 and Chat 70 from clearone

A speakerphone for individual or small group use, the CHAT 170 connects to PCs and laptops for rich, full-duplex audio communication with Microsoft Office Communicator 2007. The CHAT 170 is the perfect addition to the office or conference room for greatly enhanced collaboration.

http://www.clearone.com/moc-group-speakerphone.html

The CHAT 70 is a personal speakerphone that connects to PCs and laptops for rich, full-duplex audio communication with Microsoft Office Communicator 2007. With HDConference™ audio technologies, the CHAT 170 is the perfect audio peripheral for greatly enhanced collaboration through unified communication.

http://www.clearone.com/chat70/

New Device: Information wanted !

Will this device get in to production ?

Is it a Catajay or a tantalina :)

any rumors ?????? :)

Jabra M5390 USB (Communicator/mobile phone)

With this headset you will get a Voice device for your Mobile phone and Communicator a the same time.

Jabra M5390 USB

• Talk time: 6 hours
• Standby time: 60 Hours
• Weight: 0.63 oz
• Music Streaming

• Bluetooth 2.0 - up 70m range in free line of sight
• Digital sound enhancement via DSP technology
• One headset for mobile and PC based telephony
• Clear calls in noisy environments
• True wideband sound with USB dongle
• Improved wearing style

• Optimized for Microsoft Office Communicator

more info here

Did you know that I love my GN 2000 ……. ;) it never run out of Batteri/power!

OCS: USB phone and USB speakerphone

The new .Audio 1100M phone handset and the MCD 100 USB speakerphone offer an enhanced user experience with integrated call control from the Office Communicator 2007 software. These products join the growing portfolio of Plantronics products Optimized for Microsoft Office Communicator announced in 2008.

The Plantronics MCD 100 USB speakerphone, also announced today, is an option for those conducting group conference calls via Office Communicator 2007. It provides 360-degree room coverage so more than one person can participate in a PC-based audio conference

More info: http://www.plantronics.com/MicrosoftUCLaunch/