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OCS Forum seeks nominations for:
- Leadership
- Technical Achievement
- Solution Innovation
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Get OCS Smart - OCS Forum Expo - Boulder - June 15-16 at the St. Julien Hotel with keynotes from OCS MVPs, Media Gateway- SBC experts, consultants, "road warriors" and others.
Fees are $995 until May 1 and $1195 until the event. See just below or CLICK HERE for more on conference schedule and program.
To Register for OCS Expo Only Click Here
To Register for OCS Expo & SIP Class Click here
(Details on the SIP class is way down below.)
WIN an Apple iPad 16 at OCS Forum Expo.
Topics presented will likely explore OCS planning, QoS, Security, Firewalls, Media Gateways, PBX Integration, Mobile OCS, Communicator, WAN-Bandwidth Planning, Customer Applications, Troubleshooting, Session Border Controllers and others.
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OCS Forum Expo Speaker Presentations Expanded to include:
OCS-SIP Future Network Architecture
New Enhanced Content for OCS Forum Expo & SIP 2010 Planning Guide
According to Mr. Matt Jolly TECHtionary & OCS Forum CTO, "while you may certainly argue that customers may select Avaya (Nortel), Microsoft OCS, NEC, Cisco, ShoreTel, Siemens, Alcatel, Asterisk or other Open Source for their voice IP-PBX solutions, it is almost a certainty they will have Cisco routers, switches and other Cisco gear in their network. We wanted to provide an educational platform for exploring planning and designing a future-centric/proof resilient fault-protected network. "To that end, considerable research and development went into this new section which will be presented at OCS Forum Expo and included in the SIP 2010 course available for customer training venues," noted Tom Cross CEO. In addition, "integration of IMS-IP Multimedia Systems was also added as there is no network without a discussion of all forms for broadband wireless," Cross added.
OCS/SIP-Session Initiation Protocol Network Architectures
- SSignaling-Server Virtualization - Benefits of Server Virtualization aka Abstraction
- Distributed user endpoints and application servers
- Scalable growth with QoS-Quality of Service control abstraction
- MACS* via signaling "abstraction"
*Moves, Adds, Changes & SAS-Stand Alone Survivability - SAS enables backup for SIP devices by the multiple "abstract" local or cloud SBC-Session Border Controllers and Media Gateway(s).
- Trunking - Benefits of SIP Trunking
- Session and Signaling control layers for:
- On-net (IP PBX to IP PBX)
- Off-net (IP PBX to local PSTN)
- Off-net (IP PBX to LD/IDDD PSTN)
- SPOC/SMOC-Single/Multiple Point of Connection
- National control points for access (vendors)
- Migration path to ALL-SIP & IMS-3GPP
- Number Transparency - Benefits of Number Transparency
- End-to-end media control (transparency) for voice or other media types
- Access to SS7-Signaling System 7 applications for text messaging, mobility or call center routing
- Enterprise control over call completion whether PSTN or SIP rather than provider
- Migration path to E.164 & IMS-IP Multimedia Service & 3GPP-Third Generation Partner Project Release 6
- Routing - Benefits of SIP Routing
- Eliminates "mesh" network mess
- Add intelligent Session Layer 5 routing
- Maintains end-to-end media transparency
- Add media CoS-Classes of Service
- Adds SPOC-Single Point of Contact with NOC-Network Operations Center
- Migration path to ALL-SIP & IMS-3GPP
- Proxy Peering Networks - Benefits of SIP Proxy Peering Networks
- Platform for multi-vendor services
- Ensures multiple CoS & QoS options
- Migration path to ALL-SIP & IMS-3GPP
- Foundation for any future network needs
OCS from Past to Presence
- By 2012 Presence will be the standard
- 80s someone called your desk (pink message slip)
- Then voice mail could be sent to another location
- Now can enable and block presence. Partners and vendors can see your calendar, live meetings cut travel times, traceable IMs allow for instant communication
- You Can Set OCS and Forget It
- OCS vs PBX - Why?
- Can I leverage my current equipment?
- Get rid of your PBX lines
- Projects on IT lists can be rolled into OCS
- OCS Will Replace Email - But Don't Tell Microsoft
- Gen Y isn't emailing
- Exchange will be a Unified Communication platform
- Will reduce email storage space
- Traceback Traceability
- Social networking - companies don't know what employees are saying
- Allow employees to communicate but protect your liability |
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Here's some of the great OCS solutions presenting at OCS Forum Expo:
AudioCodes Presents OCS Solutions at OCS Expo
AudioCodes is a leading manufacturer of Media Gateways for Microsoft Unified Messaging & Unified Communications, including Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2. Utilizing AudioCodes Media Gateways, businesses are able to interface Microsoft communications applications to a wide range of TDM PBXs, IP-PBX, SIP Trunking and legacy PSTN trunking facilities. With unsurpassed voice quality, reliability, flexibility and scalability, AudioCodes Media Gateways have earned many accolades and should be your first choice when deploying Microsoft Unified Communications. Visit www.audiocodes.com/microsoft for more information.
NOVUS presents OCS Solutions at OCS Expo
Since 1983, Novus, LLC has been supporting manufacturers' reseller channels worldwide, serving over 15 countries on 4-continents. Engaged at the inception of VoIP, our thorough understanding of VAR's needs and end-user expectations has positioned Novus as the leading distributor of snom IP telephones deployed on Microsofts' OCS platform at www.novusllc.com
Gold Systems presents OCS Solutions at OCS Expo
Gold Systems is a unified communications specialist and a Microsoft Gold Certified Managed Partner, developing voice-driven solutions using IVR and speech recognition. Offerings include phone self-service and contact center solutions built on Office Communications Server 2007 R2, and unified messaging deployment and telephony interfaces to Exchange Server 2010. www.goldsys.com Phone 303-447-2774 - email websales@goldsys.com
SNOM presents OCS Solutions at OCS Expo
snom technology is a global manufacturer of SIP-based IP telephones for business, carrier and high-end consumer markets. Based on open standards, feature-rich and affordable, snom's products are engineered to fulfil their vision of ubiquitous, standards-based VoIP/SIP/OCS. Based in Berlin, snom's sales/distribution network extends to over 40 countries at www.snom.com
NET presents OCS Solutions at OCS Expo NET's VX Series Intelligent Voice Gateways and Switches are specifically designed to provide the enterprise-class integration, interoperability, and security with scalability required for successful adoption of VoIP and Unified Communications into new and existing voice and PBX environments. Founded in 1983, NET (Network Equipment Technologies Inc.) is headquartered in Fremont California at www.net.com.
Aastra presents OCS Solutions at OCS Expo
Aastra USA is the North American business unit of Aastra Technologies Limited, (TSX:"AAH"), a leading company at the forefront of the enterprise communications market. With more than 50 million installed lines around the world, offers one of the most complete portfolios of unified communications solutions available today. www.aastrausa.com.
FaxCore presents OCS Solutions at OCS Expo
FaxCore is the 21 st century fax solution that combines the Microsoft .NET platform, a web interface and innovative fax over IP deployment opportunities into a single solution. A strategic partner of Dialogic, means all the advantages of the Dialogic platform are leveraged by FaxCore for leading edge deployments and unparalleled reliability. Click her for www.faxcore.com for more information. 
GreenAppx presents OCS Solutions at OCS Expo
GreenAppX has assembled the industry-leading applications for corporate 1) email, 2) network security, 3) data back-up and 4) office processes. These four categories contain critical applications that are crucial to the day-to-day management of any business. The start-up and recurring expense associated with traditional software deployments addressing these four categories are beyond the budgets of most small to mid-size enterprises. Click here for www.greenappx.com for more information.
Uncommon Solutions presents OCS Solutions at OCS Expo
Uncommon Solutions' OCS-certified engineers design, deploy and integrate OCS solutions. We are a Microsoft Gold Partner with the 1st Microsoft-approved OCS appliance designed to facilitate real-time communication services and improve business processes. Uncommon Solutions is uncommon in our ability to address business goals with IT solutions that measure cost against value. Click here www.uncommonsolutions.com for more information.
911 Enable Presents OCS Solutions at OCS Expo
911 Enable provides simple to deploy, easy to manage E911 solutions for IP telephony, including a solution designed to meet the unique requirements of Microsoft OCS. Its solutions include a national E911 call routing service, automated phone tracking appliance, and security desk notification system, which help organizations reduce liability concerns and meet E911 regulations. Click here www.911enable.com for more information.
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NEW - June 7-11 Dates in Boulder Announced
OCS Forum Presents - OCS R2-2010-Ultimate Course
5-Day Training - "Hands-on" Labs with 700+ page manual with Special SIP Essentials section - click for more on SIP section.
Critical Course for Planning OCS Design & Certification Study for Exam 70-638, Exam 70-262 and other tests
OCS Forum (http://www.ocsforum.com) announced its new OCSR2-2010 Ultimate course. "R2 and Wave 14 coming in 2010 confirms Microsoft place in the new telecommunications networking business," noted Tom Cross OCS Forum CEO. "R2 is having a significant impact on corporate voice telecommunications strategies indicating the end of the TDM-time division multiplexed PBX-Private Branch eXchange systems is now insight. Microsoft is also driving companies like Cisco, Nortel, Avaya, NEC, Mitel, ShoreTel to rethink their featuresets and capabilities because while R2 is a new game when Wave 14 is released in 2010, their days are numbered," Cross commented.
This five -day (5-day) "hands-on" lab course with 700+ page manual focuses on the core components of OCS 2007 R2, including:
- Instant Messaging (IM) between everyone in the organization in the office or remote
- Application and Desktop sharing for true collaboration
- Audio/Video Conferencing including internally hosted audio conference calls and Live Meetings
- Integration with Exchange Server 2007 Unified Messaging
- Securing the environment to protect communications
The course provides many hands-on labs to practice and reinforce learning of many new concepts. After completing this course, students should be able to design, install, configure, maintain, monitor, and troubleshoot the core components of OCS 2007 R2.
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Click here for Free OCS Posters
Part 2 - Understand STUN in OCS
OCS Poster - Picture is Worth a Thousand Words"
The animated tutorial on STUN can be found on the home page of OCS Forum or click here. See poster below for the STUN methods. RFC-Request For Comment 3489 - STUN - Simple Traversal of UDP-User Datagram Protocol Through NAT-Network Address Translators. According to the committee "STUN is a lightweight protocol that allows applications to discover the presence and types of NATs and firewalls between them and the public Internet. It also provides the ability for applications to determine the public IP-Internet Protocol addresses allocated to them by the NAT.
According to the IETF, "the STUN protocol does not work for UDP traversal through a Symmetric style NAT. TURN-Traversal Using Relay Network address translation provides the solution for UDP traversal of symmetric NAT. TURN is extremely similar to STUN in both syntax and operation. It provides an external address at a TURN server that will act as a relay and guarantee traffic will reach the associated internal address."
This illustrates the response traversal through the open pin hole using a method called a Symmetric Response. This involves an SIP-Session Initiation Protocol endpoints both sending and receiving RTP traffic from the same IP Address/Port combination. That is, the same port number is used on inbound and outbound port. Rport-Remote Port is included to described in the Symmetric response section as defined in RFC 3581.
According to experts, "It has been observed that NAT treatment of UDP varies among implementations."
The four types of STUN observed in implementations are:
1 - Full Cone - A full cone NAT is one where all requests from the same internal IP address and port are mapped to the same external IP address and port. Furthermore, any external host can send a packet to the internal host, by sending a packet to the mapped external address.
2 - Restricted Cone - A restricted cone NAT is one where all requests from the same internal IP address and port are mapped to the same external IP address and port. Unlike a full cone NAT, an external host (with IP address X) can send a packet to the internal host only if the internal host had previously sent a packet to IP address X.
3 - Port Restricted Cone - A
port restricted cone NAT is like a restricted cone NAT, but the restriction includes port numbers. Specifically, an external host can send a packet, with source IP address X and source port P, to the internal host only if the internal host had previously sent a packet to IP address X and port P.
4 - Symmetric - A symmetric NAT is one where all requests from the same internal IP address and port, to a specific destination IP address and port, are mapped to the same external IP address and port. If the same host sends a packet with the same source address and port, but to a different destination, a different mapping is used. Furthermore, only the external host that receives a packet can send a UDP packet back to the internal host.
There's a lot more in the Animated Tutorial including NAT:
The NAT is often-referred to as the Border Router and is the only device to understand both private and public IP Addressing schemes (lists). The NAT receives requests (TCP/IP connections) from external hosts (servers) and forwards these requests to internal hosts using the public IP address as the return address to the external source. This allows any number of private IP Addresses to be represented and communicate with the Public Internet using a single registered address.
Got OCS news, customer case studies, tips and vendor-neutral white papers, send them to cross@ocsforum.com. |
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Special 1.5 day SIP Training after the OCS Expo limited to 10 attendees from Thursday 0900-1600 and Friday 0800-1100 - $495 for OCS Forum attendees and $895 for all others.
Click here for outline (please note all topics may not be covered due to timeframe)
"The SIP/VoIP courses are more than a superb primer on VoIP/SIP technology; they are an indepth business plan for a VoIP/SIP implementation. In addition, the VoIP/SIP diagnostic and troubleshooting guide is the most thorough approach to VoIP QoS available. I need information that informs but does not overwhelm. Information that guides but not drives you away. The courses provide insights and actionable information that has helped me get the technology we need sooner but saved me a considerable amount in understanding what we didn't need. The SIP course especially is a valuable one which provides much needed information in a readily understandable format." Paul Daubitz - President - ATI-TeleManagement
All Students in SIP Planning Guide Course will receive this New Cisco SIP Trunking Book (published 2-4-2010).
 SIP Trunking is one of the first complete books to planning, evaluating, and implementing high-value SIP trunking solutions. Most large enterprises have switched to IP telephony, and service provider backbone networks have largely converted to VoIP transport. But there's a key missing link: most businesses still connect to their service providers via old-fashioned, inflexible TDM-Time Division Multiplexed trunks. Cisco® authors show how to use Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) trunking to eliminate legacy interconnects and gain the full benefits of end-to-end VoIP. Written for enterprise decision-makers, network architects, consultants, and service providers, this book demystifies SIP trunking technology and trends and brings unprecedented clarity to the transition from TDM to SIP interconnects. The authors "separate the true benefits of SIP trunking from the myths and help you systematically evaluate and compare service provider offerings. This book includes detailed cost analyses, including guidance on identifying realistic, achievable savings." SIP Trunking also introduces essential techniques for optimizing network design and security, introduces proven best practices for implementation, and shows how to apply them through a start-to-finish case study. Some of the concepts explored in the book are
· Discover the advanced Unified Communications solutions that SIP trunking facilitates
· Systematically plan and prepare your network for SIP trunking
· Generate effective RFPs for SIP trunking
· Compare SIP deployment models and assess their tradeoffs
· Address key network design issues, including security, call admission control, and call flows
· Manage SIP/TDM interworking throughout the transition
· This IP communications book is part of the Cisco Press® Networking Technology Series. IP communications titles from Cisco Press - SIP Trunking book by Christina Hattingh, Darryl Sladden, ATM Zakaria Swapan was first published February 4 - 2010. |
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Cool article on Cisco and OCS
Cisco and Microsoft Collaboration in Unified Communications
According to the article, "Cisco and Microsoft have an established history of cooperating across technologies to provide customers with `innovative business solutions. In the area of unified communications, the two companies are interoperating to help joint customers deliver inclusive and business-transforming communications solutions using services and applications from each company."
However, its much more than sharing "UC" content between telephonesets and PCs, its about changing the model of business communications. Please send us your thoughts.
Got OCS news, customer case studies, tips and vendor-neutral white papers, send them to cross@ocsforum.com. |
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Click here for Free OCS ebooks
OCS "Better than Book Smart"
Best Practices Series
There are quite a few books on OCS available. I have read a number of them and here's one I like. One of the great aspects of this book, Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Resource Kit (ISBN-13-978-0-7356-2635-5) by Maximo and others is great detailed information including extra material on th CD.
Got OCS news, customer case studies, tips and vendor-neutral white papers, send them to cross@ocsforum.com. |
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Keynote Speeches
From Teleconferencing to Telepresence
Making Virtual Meetings Work For You
Hal Josephson is President of MediaSense
· A brief history -- thirty years of tele-meetings - what will meetings be like 30 years from now
· Best practices -- developing valuable tele-skills - enhancing human communications with tele/presence · Creative techniques applied: lessons learned - what has failed and what will it take to succeed
Understanding and Troubleshooting Video Conferencing Networks
Presented by Gary Thom, President, Delta Information Systems &
Thomas Smith, Program Director, University of Wisconsin
· The bulk of installed systems are H.323 compliant, how can H.323 work with SIP and other standards and protocols
· How does the ITU H.323 and SIP standards support advanced audio and video features
· What are the common problems in videoconferencing networks
 "The Future of Inter-Company Visual Collaboration. . . Today!"
Howard will address:
- Building a Business Case and Modeling ROI for Tele/Presence
- The rising hard, soft, and opportunity cost of Tele/Presence
- Balancing Physical Travel Versus Tele/Presence
- Utilizing Tele/Presence for Economic Development and Global Expansion
- Enhancing and Accelerating Revenue Growth via Tele/Presence
- Integrating Tele/Presence into the Supply Chain for Improvement Channel Partner Communications
Howard S. Lichtman is a productivity-focused technology futurist, author, publisher and consultant with specialties in telepresence and visual collaboration to improve organizational and personal productivity. He is the founder and president of the Human Productivity Lab, an independent consultancy and research firm that helps organizations design telepresence strategies and deploy telepresence solutions. He is the publisher of Telepresence Options, the #1 website on the Internet covering the telepresence revolution and editor of the Telepresence Options Telegraph, the world's most widely read publication covering telepresence technologies.
Tele-Presence Forum provides learning and educational services on audio, video - tele/presence, web conferencing and other aspects of tele/presence and is the sponsor of Tele/Presence Forum Expo. More information can be found at http://www.tele-presenceforum.com or http://www.presenceforum.com |
| From MS Team OCS - helpful OCS TechTips
Click here for NextHop
Whether you're new to Office Communications Server and Unified Communications, simply looking for some helpful hints, or trying to get some serious information, we'll help you find what you need. |
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OCS "Crash Course" Hands-On Half Day
Getting OCS up in 3 hours - Coming fall 2010
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THE GRAPEFRUIT DIET Approach to Tech Implementation
What Computer Engineer Barbie(r) would do
Part 3 of 7 Steps to Successful Technical Implementation3
Implementing any new technology requires an enormous amount of time and energy. The following steps are suggested for the organization that integrates any technical solution.
3 - Let the monster sleep - Like with any diet plan, if you have employees who don't want to the technology, ignore them. These people may change their attitudes, but it is more likely that, over time, technology (or diet plans) will change to be more compatible with them. Technology is not for everyone, nor useful all the time. Allow employees to understand what the technology will do for them. And remember that cars, television, and airplanes are still not used by many people throughout the world, so never assume people ever want to change. |
| The GotUC.net developer sandbox is open for registration
We are a group of Microsoft Office Communications Server developers working together through a web-community to promote Office Communications Server development, to increase our skills and assist others. The founders of this site are firm believers in the potential of OCS and are committed to doing our part to make this community grow. On this site you will find many Microsoft MVPs for OCS who are willing to share their expertise with others.We are big evangelists for OCS and seek every available opportunity to speak out about it. |
Special Notes
- Read new book "Facebook Marketing for Dummies - click here
- Cool Microsoft Blog on OCS for Edu - click here |
| New OCS Forum Job Board - click here
-- New Jobs from Gold Systems & Level3
Post your UC, UM, LCS, OCS, PBX, Integration and related jobs on OCS Forum Job Board at no charge.
Premium advertising available.
Send your positions to cross@gocross.com. |
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CrossTalk Named One of the Top-10 Telecommunications Blogs
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All videos are FREE to OCS Forum 2010 Expo attendees and exhibitors.
Previous Videos
- OCS Front End Server
- OCS Planning Tool
- Edge Planning Tool
- Getting To Know Microsoft Office Communicator
- OCS User Creation
- Mediation Server
- Edge Server |
Free Technical "Just Enough Just-in-Time" Knowledge from:
The World's First and Largest Animated Library on Technology with more than 3,000 animated tutorials.
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OCS Training in the New York-New Jersey Area and Live Online:
If you are looking to implement Microsoft OCS 2007 solution and need some training help, Solartech might be the trainer provider you can check out. They are the Microsoft 2009 Partner of the Year finalist and provide OCS R2 training for Microsoft clients. They are based in New York City but you can attend their live training right online if you prefer not to travel. Interested, you can contact Christian Fortes at cfortes@solartechnj.com (201.807.9889, ext. 106).
Mention you saw this in OCS Forum newsletter and get a $200 discount on the first student. | |
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Boulder
Happiest City in U.S.
Come to OCS Forum Expo and see why.
The St. Julien Hotel in Boulder is an extraordinary hotel. For a 30-second Flash tour of Boulder and Hotel Reservation information click here. Please make your reservations early.
Info on Rocky Mountain National Park - Elk, deer, moose, bighorn sheep, black bears, coyotes, cougars, eagles, hawks and scores of smaller animals - chipmonks galore delight wildlife-watchers of all ages. Wildflower-lovers are never disappointed in June and July when the meadows and hillsides are splashed with botanical color.
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OCS Forum provides classroom and webseminar training as well as a non-production environment for those IT departments without additional equipment, budget or time. This allows planners and users to test ideas, dial in and dial back out, IM file transfers, remote desktop sharing, video conferencing, run scenarios, review logs, break linkages and learning about new telephony features and network access. OCS Forum is also designed for both the system integrator/consultant who wants to learn about OCSR2 without having to build their own system as well as the enterprise customer who doesn't have the time, resources or knowledge to develop one. OCS Forum Labs are designed to be "hands-on" or "over-the-shoulder" with experts available for Q&A and classes for feature-specific review.
About OCS Forum
OCS Forum is a vendor-independent laboratory environment designed for learning, technical guides, knowledge resources and online "live" services. OCS Forum provides planning, project management, consulting, training, case studies, white papers, speaking engagements, market/customer research, network planning and other services.
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