It looks like snom 7xx now has BETA UC Edition firmware available. It includes an interesting surprise: RT Audio Narrowband is supported.
Goto snom.com and login with your credential to access the BETA firmware:
www.snom.com
Lync Firmware 8.8.2.6 BETA Available for snom 710, 720 and 760
Jabra Speak 510 Portable, Bluetooth Audio Conferencing Device Announced
I’ve been highly impressed by the Jabra Speak 410 (see my video review here) and Jabra just announced a Bluetooth version of this device, the Jabra SPEAK 510.
Some Characteristics:
- Bluetooth
- 15 hours of battery time
- Use the conference device with mobile phone as well
- Additional Bluetooth and Batter indicator (compared to SPEAK 410)
- At this time no information on Lync Certified/Optimized status.
I suspect the Jabra Speak 510 will have much of the good of the 410, so read my extensive review/video of the 410 here: http://windowspbx.blogspot.com/2012/05/first-impression-video-review-of-jabra.html
See Jabra Announcement:
http://jabra.dmplocal.com/main/index.php?wd=ArticleGateway&article_id=617&smart_skin_id=56
#Skype for Windows Phone 8: Glimpse What #Lync Mobile/UC App Integration Could Look Like on WP8
A video posted demoing Skype for Windows Phone 8 features reveals the kinds of tight integration to the OS Windows Phone 8 Communication apps could be capable of.
Many UC industry watchers have noted that most UC mobile apps languish in app stores or unused on mobile devices because user’s need to run “yet another app” (or in Cisco/Jabber for iphone 4 more apps!) and the apps are not integrated tightly into the exsisting phone experience. In my estimation this is a very real and relevant problem that phone vendors/UC mobile apps need to overcome if they want their mobile apps to be more than items to check off on proposals and actually be used.
Skype for Windows Phone Nails Some of These challenges as shown below:
Incoming Calls Appear EXACTLY like a Windows Phone incoming Mobile Operator call.
This is not a push notification toast, but the complete incoming call experience you would expect from a normal phone call on a Windows Phone. The only difference is that the ringing sound is the Skype ring sound. (not sure if this is contact driven or phone setting or skype setting). The demo notes that Skype does not even need to be running to get this deeply integrated experience.
Skype Contacts are Sync’d to WP8 Contact List.
And there is a Skype Action on WP8 Contact Card which jumps you to a Skype IM.
Skype Group Chat/IM with Topic
Bring back Subject in Lync 2013!
Favorites (nothing big or surprising here)
Skype Contact List Includes WP8 Contacts as Well
This means that when you are in Skype for WP8 you will see and be able call phone number even if they don’t have skype (if you have phone calling skype credits of course) Not surprising considering Skype contacts will be integrated into WP8 contact List.
Live Tile: Last Message and Message Count
This is not something new for windows Phone, but it is new for Skype on WP.
Watch the video below:
Some remaining questions I would have about communication/UC app integration capabilities in Windows Phone 8:
- Will 3rd party developers be able to access everything Skype can?
- Will Skype/UC apps be capable of showing missed calls in Wp8 Phone Call History?
- Will Skype/UC apps be capable of having missed/ongoing IM conversations show up in “Messaging” Hub?
- Will Skype/UC apps be capable of pushing VoiceMail/MWI notification to phone tile?
- Will Skype/UC apps be capable of showing missed IM’s on Lock screen?
Once again: I think it is absolutely essential that UC apps on mobile platforms are DEEPLY integrated into the native mobile phone experience and not siloed apps with mere push notifications as integration point. It looks like Microsoft is definitely working in the right direction with Windows Phone 8 in this regard.
Thanks to WPCentral for tipping us to this development:
http://www.wpcentral.com/skype-windows-phone-8-gets-demoed-video
Ed Bott has some revelations about Skype for Win8 RT
http://www.zdnet.com/online-clues-suggest-a-skype-surprise-for-windows-8-and-surface-7000006082/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDWEJ4Wawyk
Gshift33
Lync Server 2010 Cumulative Update October 2012 (aka CU7) Rollout Starting
It appears that Lync Server 2010 October 2012 CU KB’s are starting to hit.
Some updates/fixes noted:
- An update is available for Monitoring Server to create a Media Quality Comparison report in a Lync Server 2010 environment
- An update that enables Monitoring Server to create a Call Leg Media Quality Report in a Lync Server 2010 environment is available
- 2745103 URLs that contain special characters bypass the URL filter in Lync 2010
- 2735321 "Block all" setting of the global file transfer filter does not work in Lync Server 2010
- Lync Mobile for Windows Phone app changed versions on WP Marketplace in last week so appears an update may be in store on that front.
Below are the specific KB articles:
- Core Components update KB: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2740403
- Security update KB: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2726382
- Mobility Update KB: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2743736/en-us?sd=rss&spid=924
- http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2493736/en-us?sd=rss&spid=924&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Lync Mobile for Windows Phone Updated (Oct 9, 2012)
What is new?
- New Version: Version 4.1.8092.0
- Under About there is a new “Debug Info” button
How Do I Get it right now?
Dave Stork gives this excellent tip for getting the update right now: You can force updates by searching the Lync app in the marketplace & look at screenshots. [once you do this you can click UPDATE to get the app]