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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:
"Managing Migration Madness"
Migration-Survivability-Reliability
- Microsoft OCS Migration - from start to finish
- Using Active Directory to smooth organization migration to OCS
- Drop and Insert - adding OCS without spending money on older TDM PBXs
- Branch Offices and OCS - Survivability techniques
- Improving Reliability at the core with "Crossover Gateway Resiliency"
- AudioCodes SPS - When it's time to forklift out the PBX - PBX to OCS - No Rush - Easing the Transition"
- SIP Trunking with OCS - Interoperability and Security Solutions
OCS & QoS
"Irrational Exuberance" - Myth versus Reality
- OCS platform is not QoS-Ready - Understanding the Myth of QoS in today's network
- Testing your QoS today - Benchmarks, whoops and RGE
- Planning the "endpoint-to-endpoint" impact of an OCS integration
- Analyze your infrastructure:
- Hardstuff - routers, switches, cable, power, WiFi and . .
- Softstuff - training, support, users, Office 2010 featureset, what else
- Upgrading your infrastructure - building in QoS for today and tomorrow
- Test your infrastructure and then test it again - lessons learned from Toyota
- Dealing with the Extinction of the PBX - dial plans, routing, call centers, etc.
- Phase in the OCS integration
- Internal deployment
- External deployment
- Voice deployment - Advanced/Enterprise deployment
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
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
- Signaling-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
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Here's some of the great OCS solutions presenting at OCS Forum Expo:
FaceTime Communications presents Security, Management and Compliance for OCS @ OCS Expo
Whether it's ensuring your users only utilize OCS and blocking access to other real time communications tool, or applying disclaimers, setting user policy and archiving chats for compliance, FaceTime's solutions integrate full with OCS. From OCS Platform reporting to ethical walls in Group Chat, and Live Meeting management and recording you'll find it all - click here.
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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
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
AudioCodes will be exhibiting the SPS solution at VoiceCon, Orlando, March 22-24, 2010 in booth #428.
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.
NET named Finalist in VoiceCon(R) Orlando 2010 Announces Best of VoiceCon http://bit.ly/bovrelease.
Network Equipment Technologies, Inc. ("NET", NASDAQ: NWK), a leader in network and voice-over-IP solutions, today announced that it is showcasing its suite of voice products for enterprise unified communications at VoiceCon 2010 in Orlando, Florida, booth #628.
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 21st 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 - 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 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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RTCP-XR is one of the key tools in diagnosing QoS and troubleshooting SIP/OCS networks. XR-eXtended Report technology can be integrated into IP Phones or PSTN Gateways. XR packets (see graphic for packet format) are sent periodically during the call to provide real time feedback on call QoS. However, SIP network planners need to consider the amount of XR traffic that also consumes and reports on voice traffic. That is, diagnostic XR traffic consumes bandwidth to diagnose traffic.
The contents of the MRB-Metrics Report Block report include:
- Network packet loss - resulting from congestion, buffer overflow
- Packets discard resulting from jitter - resulting from congestion, buffer overflow
- Density of packets lost in burst periods - Density of Packets lost in gap periods - Average duration of burst periods in msec (milliseconds) - Average duration of gap periods in msec - Round Trip Delay - more than 200 msecs causes human factor problems - End system delay - resulting from distant system processing delays - Signal level (dBm) -
- Noise level (dBm) - Residual Echo Return Loss - Gmin - gap in msec - gap threshold - recommended value of 16 to test for degradation during gap periods - R Factor - Result/Rate/Rated Model - R-Rating Factor - 80-90 Most Satisfied - 90+ Very Satisfied - MOS-LQ - Mean Opinion Score - Listening Quality - 1-5 (5=Good) - MOS-CQ - Mean Opinion Score - Conversational Quality - 10-50 - JB-Jitter Buffer Nominal - current nominal jitter buffer delay in milliseconds, which corresponds to the nominal jitter buffer delay for packets that arrive exactly on time - a typical jitter buffer configuration is 30 milliseconds to 50 milliseconds and an adaptive jitter buffer maximum size may be set to 100-200 milliseconds. - JB Maximum - Jitter Buffer Maximum delay in milliseconds - JB Absolute - Jitter Buffer Absolute maximum delay in milliseconds that the adaptive jitter buffer can reach under worst case conditions.
Got OCS news, customer case studies, tips and vendor-neutral white papers, send them to cross@ocsforum.com. |
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Get SIP Smart
Proxies are signaling - Media servers are content
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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Get "SIP Smart" with New Qwest Info
"With Qwest iQ SIP Trunk, you gain all the security and reliability of MPLS without requiring expensive overhauls to your current infrastructure"
OCS Forum view is MPLS is critical to any SIP trunking implementation.
Got OCS news, customer case studies, tips and vendor-neutral white papers, send them to cross@ocsforum.com. |
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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 4 of 7 Steps to Successful Technical Implementation
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.
4 - Understand the enemy-The difficulty in adapting to new technology or diet plan often resides in the tasks that are performed with it. It is plain to see that nearly everyone has a different job title and manages specialized information, process or activity that goes with it. Robotics and factory automation have been successfully incorporated into the manufacturing environment because by programming machinery to assume repetitious tasks, workers are freed to pursue more interesting undertakings.
As we move into upper-level management positions, jobs become vastly more complex and more dependent on individual management styles. Here, automation in general and technology in particular can only hope to be an "executive helper," at best. Technology or diet plan often supplements certain types of work rather than replaces it. That is, the either plan will need to make work or life better. Technology is a "power tool" or powerbar that helps managers gain visibility, handle workloads, and increase work quality. Like with any diet, understand it's probably not the first time the person tried to lose weight and probably not the last and what really motivates the user. |
| 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.
NEW - click here for Highest Altitude WEB Cams in the U.S.
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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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