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| (c) /Cloud /Skype /Lync User Forum - 5-11-12 Issue #139
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/Cloud /Skype /Lync User Forum is an Independent Forum on
Social Business, Business, Cloud Communications, Microsoft, Google, Apple and other Communications, Unified-Contextual-Intelligence Communications topics and technologies.
Microsoft Lync is a trademark of the Microsoft Corporation.
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| Our Sponsors | 
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Companies that allow employees to remotely sign in to Microsoft Lync Server 2010 communications software from the Internet can be susceptible to denial-of-service (DoS) and brute-force attacks. Both types of attacks involve guessing users' passwords or locking out user accounts when too many incorrect password attempts are made to a valid Active Directory Domain Services user account when a password policy is enforced. Although internal security is not compromised, both types of attacks can be disruptive to users and consume internal server resources. To help prevent your organization from such attacks at the network perimeter, the security filter for the Microsoft Lync Server 2010, Edge Server monitors sign-in attempts and enforces account lockout at the network perimeter.  iFlipTip
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For advertising and other marcom options,
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or call 303-594-1694
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See V7V Demonstrations at SpeechTEK #707
With the demands to address new business requirements,  V7V can be the one voice IVR platform for all your customer call processing needs.
Referred to by Lync experts as the "Lync-IVR," Vonetix 7 Voice addresses three primary customer objectives:
- Lync and IVR integration
- Contact Center Solutions with Lync
- Customer-centric IVR results
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| Greetings!
Welcome to the Cloud/Skype/Lync User Forum click here for website.
 Zap the App Gap - The more I dig deeper into mobile, the more interesting is becomes. The article below on Lync Mobile makes you think more and more about how apps are going to change the platform landscape as apps of all kinds change the way we think about business and all parts of our lives. New ways that Kinect, Siri and others will rethink the way we connect with our technology.  New business apps will help us rethink our businesses and the way we do business. The current trend is companies who act like Home Depot to help you build your own app like Hamburger Helper. I have four iPhone/iPad apps on iTunes and working on more, however the more you do the more you realize what can be done with apps. Click on the image for an article from ABC news which quite indepth and if you think you need an app for your own business take a look. This way you can zap the app gap with your own app.Maybe the most interesting news I saw this week was yet another story that Apple doesn't really need the wireless carriers. Maybe Apple should just buy one, they certainly can afford it. The point is that not everyone is near a WiFi hotspot so there will always be need for a wide area wireless carrier. However, like the stories on Lync mobile we have been running it will be the apps that integrate communications beyond just voice will be the key factors driving user demand. I have written on many occasions that the telephone is certainly one of the most annoying devices ever invented because it rings and you answer it. UC mobile apps like Lync, Iscoord and others will give the user the ability to take back their life and presence of mind too.
Our goal is to find applications, solutions, tech, users and other content on Google, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft Lync, Amazon, Kinect, Twitter, SharePoint & Skype. We want hear from you about great ideas on the www-wild wild web of internet communications and online cloud, SaaS and other hot tech solutions.
Send your ideas and products anytime.
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| Lync Mobile "Hairpins" so You Don't Have to Pull Out Your Hair
Hairpin or hairpining has been used for decades for toll bypass where users could access corporate networks to avoid long distance c harges. As shown in the animated tutorial here (click on the image for the complete tutorial), it can be used with corporate SIP networks for the same purpose.
It can also be used with Lync mobile, according to the presenter Mr.Yves Pitsch, Microsoft Lead Program Manager - Lync Server (edited), "there is one thing to pay attention to is the communications between the mobile device and Lync is that inside your organization you can use WiFi or outside the organization you can use 3G and WiFi and you can switch back and forth between the public and private corporate networks. To meet these we have a specific requirements accept mobile devices can transitions between networks, on the topology if you are inside the organization we require the traffic to go back outside and then back in which is called hairpining. That is, 1) if you are outside the organization, we require mobile traffic to go back outside be treated as like any other web traffic 2) If you are inside your organization we require the mobility traffic to also go outside hairpin back to the reverse proxy through the external interface. So no matter where you are will always hit the external website. For iPad traffic on Lync, it is confined to WiFi."
This exciting approach is designed to provide the maximum flexibility and ease of user for users who constantly are on the move even going across the street to the coffee shop and back outside the range of corporate WiFi. In addition, this mobile traffic including video/web conferencing from tablets/pads should be part of your bandwidth planning requirements on your reverse proxy service as well as security port access considerations.
Click on image for larger view and click here for more details..
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CDR-call detail recording is often thought of in such angst because as they say about terrorism, TSA has to do it right all the time and the terrorists have to do it right just once. There is always a call that gets lost, corrupted or worse. However, it is another Lync must-have and you need to have a good one. I don't have any experience with Infortel; however, they have a lot of solutions for nearly all the major PBX platforms which is also critical for nearly all projects where migration is required. Click here for Infortel's Lync solution and here is what they say about their solution:
In an on-site deployment, the Infortel Select server issues periodic queries of the Monitoring Server database to retrieve (collect) records. Once the records are received, Infortel Select parses the data, processes it, and stores the data in its own SQL Server database. Sin ce all subsequent reporting is performed on the Infortel Select database, no performance impact on Lync is seen, regardless of the number of call records stored.
ISI recognizes that opening the Lync Monitoring Server to allow an outside application to directly query the Lync Monitoring Server would present a significant security concern for the enterprise. Thus, ISI deploys a lightweight  collection server behind the corporate firewall. This server can be on a physical PC or a virtualized server, using either Hyper-V® or VMware®. The collection server periodically queries the Monitoring Server database for CDR. These records are stored locally on the collection server. On a scheduled
basis, the collection server securely pushes encrypted records to ISI's secure data center, where all subsequent processing takes place.
The rich call detail records (CDR) in Lync provide details on all interactions including voice, video, instant messaging (IM), conferencing and file transfers. Infortel Select collects, interprets and reports Lync's CDR data in a comprehensive, yet simple-to-use application. The addition of Infortel Select to the Lync solution provides management with a quick view into business performance. Infortel Select's telecom business intelligence tools create:
- Cost-Reduction: Help rightsize your telecommunications infrastructure, resulting in lower costs. Determine call productivity
across the enterprise, from sales through the help desk. Make decisions about staffing, call routing, voice-network
performance and sales channels based on quantifiable information.
- Enterprise-wide ROI: Determine key areas of value and improvement gained by the Lync deployment. Create a Chargeback Model for recouping your investment in Lync and your telecommunications facilities.
- Audit Trails: Receive valuable audit trail reports on critical communications activities. Detect fraud and abuse.
- Detailed Reports: Obtain a complete record of employee and department communication histories. When rolling out a new Lync deployment, ensure the staff is using and taking advantage of the new tools.
- Regulatory Compliance: Help meet U.S. governmental regulatory requirements such as Sarbanes-Oxley (publicly-traded corporations), HIPAA (healthcare), FERPA (education), FISMA (government), and other industry-specific requirements by maintaining the communication history in Infortel Select.
- Improved Customer Experience: Gain an insight into whether calls are answered in a timely manner so that problems can be quickly addressed, thereby improving your customers' experience with your organization.
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A deep information analysis into the various hardware load balancers was initiated by Primi sui Motori S.p.A. each phase of the research indicated that LoadMaster from Kemp Technologies was the right solution.
Marco Marzola the IT manager of Primi sui Motori S.p.A. commented "We were not restricted to accept information that Kemp Technologies LoadMaster should be the best load balancer for us, we could actually put this to the test to confirm that our preference was correct. Naturally we considered F5 and Radware, but the cost for their load balancers were far too high for our requirements. We did not stop there we did full investigation of the load balancers from Citrix Netscaler and Barracuda. Having found the right competitors to Kemp Technologies Load Master Primi sui Motori was finally ready to put the three vendors' products to the test. "It didn't take long to start finding advantages with the LoadMaster from Kemp. The intuitive graphical user interface that provides concrete support during the installation phase was a distinct advantage compared with the competition , in addition it was straight forward to study the various models and decide which one matched our requirements" commented Marco Marzola.
Primi sui Motori considers KEMP to be a reliable and easy to contact as a partner, not only during the test phase of the product but also after the purchase had been completed. Kemp's Italian sales team and the support team based in Ireland were on hand when needed "The vendor was always ready to provide fast accurate responses regarding the product configuration and/or the performance scenarios of the Kemp LoadMaster" confirmed Marco Marzola. Once the tests of the Kemp LoadMaster that had been purchased were concluded Primi sui Motori S.p.A. decided to purchase 2 additional LoadMaster 2200s in a HA (High Availability) configuration to balance the Microsoft™ CRM solution Dynamics, as well as the web based Call center platform.
Future plans
Presently the company is evaluating the potential use of LoadMaster solutions for the email system as well as unified communications. Primi sui Motori S.p.A. has the intention of integrating the KEMP ADC in its planned infrastructure in order to cater for the Exchange 2010 platform as well as Microsoft Lync 2010, for which solutions KEMP is already officially certified by Microsoft. For Lync in particular it is most likely that additional appliances will be purchased following the recommendations of both Kemp Technologies and Microsoft. "Until such time as we have a full understanding of the potential impact of different types of network traffic being overlaid on each other, web traffic, Exchange and Lync, we want to avoid the risk of causing ourselves problems by overloading our infrastructure" added Marzola. "We prefer essentially to keep the LoadMasters that balance the Lync infrastructure and those dedicated to supporting the web services separated."
Furthermore Primi sui Motori S.p.A. decided to test Lync in a different way with a group of users. Rather than the approach adopted my many when testing Lync, the company decided not to use the IT department, but rather to involve other office users, this was done in order to get feedback from the experience of ordinary users in the field rather than from the "power users". "We are quite comfortable that KEMP loa d balancers are perfectly able to support multiple services simultaneously, but we still prefer to move forward step by step, we consider this the correct course of action over time, in particular it has a logic for a company like ours that is constantly growing. The good news is that the KEMP teams in both Ireland and Italy have always been able to help us when required, at each stage of our projects" concluded Marco Marzola.
End of Part 2
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A Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) connection is a Voice over Internet Protocol ( VoIP) service offered by many Internet telephony service providers (ITSPs) that connects a company's private branch exchange ( PBX/ IP-PBX) telephone system to the ITSP public network via the Internet.
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| One Last Look Lync Pushes IT with Push Notification Services
I am a bit schizo on phone services as most of the time people interrupt you when you are already on a call and I really prefer to DND most of the time. However, push services can be a great benefit for all kinds of cool apps. Lync has integrated push notification in their mobile solution. This gives Lync a great competitive edge all Lync communications settings either desktop or deskless.
- The Lync Mobility Service sends the notification to the cloud-based Push Notification Service which then sends the notification to the appropriate device notification service. The user can then touch the notification on the mobile device to activate the application.
- Apple Push Notification Service (APNS) for supported Apple iOS devices
- Microsoft Push Notification Service (MPNS) for Windows Phone 7
- For Android and Nokia Symbian devices, the Lync mobile application runs in the background, so push notifications are not required.
Click on image for larger view and complete whitepaper.
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Vbrick is drilling down in to the crux of tele/presence that of integration of technology with content. In this paper they focus on integration of content from the SharePoint database. Being a total SharePoint fan, integration of content and Lync technology accelerates the delivery of presentations and enhances collaborative communications which I refer to as contextual communications.  From their paper, "The ability to stream Lync-based video conferencing sessions overcomes a major limitation found with video conferencing; specifically, the restrictions on reaching desktops computers and meeting rooms not equipped with VC endpoint software or hardware. Presenters are able to take an external video conference feed as an input and stream it to a virtually unlimited number of Lync clients as well as any number of other fixed and mobile devices. This approach has been shown to be more scalable and cost effective than competing solutions offered by traditional video conferencing vendors."
They added, "One successful example of this integrated approach is a software-based SharePoint gateway function that works with a video portal and VoD servers. Using standard ASP.NET Web Parts, content from the video portal can be viewed inside the corporate or departmental SharePoint site. Federated search capabilities and an embedded player make it easy to locate and play the video from right within SharePoint. Video content can be directly added through the SharePoint interface, but still managed by the back-end streaming portal. Content access can also be highly controlled based on user permissions, keywords, or private folders. While playback occurs normally from SharePoint, the complete set of video management, distribution and reporting tools are available from within the video portal." Bottom-line: Whether SharePoint, Yammer or other corporate CMS-content management system you are using is greatly enhanced with Lync technology as a CDN-content distribution network. |
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SIP Business Applications Planning Guide 2012
Click on image to schedule, complete course outline, references and more details.
What You Will Learn:
- Review the fundamentals of IP-Internet Protocol and platforms required for high performance SIP-VoIP systems. This includes soft switches, gateways, routers, services and other critical components.
- Explore business applications and opportunities. Review what customers are buying today and why they are buying. In addition, emerging "killer applications" will be explained in depth.
- Quickly grasp complex subjects such as H.323, MGCP and SIP. As SIP-Session Initiation Protocol emerges are the key VoIP communications protocol, discover how this technology will impact all voice communications systems from key, PBX, IP-PBX, hosted, managed and other systems.
 - Understand basic and advanced SIP-VoIP concepts features. From hosted, managed, IAS, and IP-PBX, quickly understands "what's-what" for different customer applications and business models.
- Probe the issues behind Integrated and Converged Access. Understand when and why organizations need a converged access solution.
- Understand why "network assessment" is critical to any SIP-VoIP implementation and why this step cannot be overlooked.
- Address the issue of QoS-Quality of Service by overcoming jitter, echo, noise and other network problems. Review the role of RTCP and other tools to monitor and maintain high performance VoIP networks.
- Understand the functions of the new communications "toolbar." See how the benefits of "unified communications" as they improve business operations.
- Assess the Top-10 issues why SIP trunking and hosted VoIP is more than "dial-tone," and how it can represent change in the business and business model of even the smallest enterprises. Discuss and explore new ways to improve fundamental business processes.
- Explore how a SIP-VoIP call is processed and review potential security attacks. Discover how SPIT, VOMIT, Calljacking, DOS and other terrorist attacks can target not just data, but voice packets.
- Review SIP and SIP Trunking and all the implications and applications from TCO-Total Cost of Ownership to QoS-Quality of Service. SIP Trunking is the most profound new form of telecommunications since POTS.
And, optionally explore Microsoft's Lync Communications Server features, concepts, call flows, configurations and other issues for evaluation and implementation. |
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Marketing Communications Solutions
There are a number of other marcom solutions available such as:
- Newsletters (e.g. private label version of Lync User Forum) 
from Constant Contact Certified Experts click here
- Webseminars ("Highest Scores Ever" - Microsoft)
- Customer Case Studies ("Best Customer Case Study' - Broadsoft)
- White Papers (Top-10 Tips for VoIP Implementation - XO)
- SEO (top placement of key words in Google), e.g. Google IVR Lync
- Social marketing (Twitter, social media course) see my Twitter account @techtionary
- Social media training (course evaluations available)
- Articles - email for example
- Press Releases (email for examples)
- Training - your courses
- Course development new courses (Qwest, Microsoft, others)
- Elearning course development and delivery (Qwest)
- Videos
- Consulting (product, strategic planning, crossnetpoints model)
Email today to get help cross@gocross.com
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Telecom Reseller reaches 37,000 readers every month by print, 1000s daily on line, by eBulletin, by podcast and in special supplements. 24,000 of these readers are IT managers at enterprises and public entities with over 200 employees, while another 12,000 are partners of Avaya, Microsoft, Cisco, Mitel, NEC, Shoretel as well as other channel partners, dealers, systems integrators, agents and VARs that sell directly to both SMBs and larger companies. We can connect you with the people who sell to smaller companies, and to the IT people who handle the internal needs of the larger firms who, on the average, manages over 56 sites.
Here are some exciting new options for fall:
- Event promotion - use to promote your event, webseminar, road show, quarterly/annual meetings and other activities.
- Blog promotion - you have a blog so why not really promote it.
- Webseminar - promotion only or design, development, moderating and promotion.
- Elite banner advertising on Telecom Reseller home page and others.
This month and going forward, we are working on special reports on Cloud Based UC Services and Products which will include:
- Hosted and cloud based PBX-VoIP and other call management solutions.
- Cloud based collaboration
- Conferencing, including voice, video and data sharing
- Cloud based data management, security, performance management and other communications
- Private cloud, MPLS and other SIP trunking solutions
Since 1988, Telecom Reseller is the industry standard for UC news, opinion and technical advice. If you are targeting companies that have historically relied on customer premises based equipment or your go to market plan includes dealers, resellers and VARs who sell into this space, Telecom Reseller can connect you with the people you are looking for.
Click here to receive the Media Kit.
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Get Lync Smart: TECHnet click on image for link
Here's a great place to get Lync Smart. I particularly like the labs and podcasts (which you can download and take with you).
Webcasts
Tune in as Microsoft subject-matter experts present product overviews and strategies for improving productivity and driving down costs. Webcasts include technical presentations about configuring, securing, and extending your unified communications infrastructure.
Videos
Learn smart strategies, get new insights, and stay up-to-date on Microsoft tools, technologies, and services. Stream or download a video today.
Virtual Labs
Test drive Microsoft's unified communications solutions in a virtual lab. It's simple-no complex setup or installation is required. You get a downloadable manual and a 90-minute block of time for each module, and you can sign up for additional 90-minute blocks anytime.
Podcasts
Stream or download these audio podcasts on to your favorite podcast software or mobile device. These podcasts are free and do not require registration-just click, listen, and learn.
Here's from one of the labs I explore: The New Enterprise Voice Features of Microsoft Lync Server 2010. Microsoft Lync Server 2010 introduces the ability to give users a second, private telephone line in addition to the primary telephone line. Private telephone lines are often assigned to executives and others who want an unlisted telephone number at which they can be reached directly. Private telephone lines can only be configured with the Lync Server Management Shell.
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Simple SIP Guide to SIP Providers
Company: IntelePeer
SIP Solution/Service name: IntelePeer SIP trunking services
Description (30 Word max): IntelePeer's SIP trunking services offer high quality and reliable VoIP connectivity that includes PSTN interconnections, DIDs, local calling, long distance, and toll-free. Try it with our 30-day no cost trial.
Contact: Fred Watkins
Contact email: sip@intelepeer.com
Company: Level 3 Communications
SIP Solution/Service name: SIP Trunking
Description (30 Word max): SIP enabled local and long distance voice service delivered to Enterprise UC and PBX platforms to enable voice communications in medium to large businesses.
Contact: Jason Brougham
Contact email: jason.brougham@level3.com
Company: EtherSpeak Communications, LLC
SIP Solution/Service Name: EtherSpeak SIP Trunks
Description: SIP Provider for Microsoft, ShoreTel, Zultys and Asterisk UC systems. Offers IP encryption, faxing, PBX hosting and managed connectivity using existing broadband, encrypted internet, MPLS network, or existing MPLS providers.
Contact: Mark Williams
Contact Email: sales@ietherspeak.com
Company - Global Crossing
SIP Solution/Service name: SIP Trunking Solutions; Global Crossing VoIP Outbound™, Global Crossing VoIP On-Net Plus™, Global Crossing VoIP Toll Free™ and Global Crossing VoIP Local Service™
Description: Global Crossing's enterprise SIP trunking solution delivers a rich breadth of services with carrier-class quality, reliability and security for maximum savings on overall telephony costs, reducing total cost of ownership.
Contact: James Harney
Contact email: siptrunking@globalcrossing.com
Quick Link to Lync Approved SIP Trunking Providers
If your company is missing, send email to cross@gocross.com
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Lync Forum Jobs Board
click here to see.
Jobs added for free on Lync Forum website
Jobs added in Newsletter for a fee.
Email links to your jobs to cross@gocross.com
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Lync Knowledge Source - 36 Blogs, Knowledge Sources on Lync Forum website
Click here for Lync Forum
If you have a blog to add or want to add your own, please send email to cross@cross.com
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TECHtionary Knowledge Source
Click here for TECHtionary -- World's First and Largest Animated Library on Technology with more than 3,015 animated tutorials.
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Lync is a Trademark of Microsoft. Cloud/Skype/Lync User Forum is an independent forum.
Advertising, Exhibiting, Training and other Marcom Programs, call 303-594-1694 or click here.
The User 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. The User Forum is also designed for both the system integrator/consultant who wants to learn about Lync 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. Coming soon, User 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 User Forum
The User Forum is a vendor-independent laboratory environment designed for learning, technical guides, knowledge resources and online "live" services. The User Forum provides planning, project management, consulting, training, case studies, white papers, speaking engagements, market/customer research, network planning and other services.
Click here to contact.
(c) User Forum - all rights reserved.
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