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Microsoft Lync: The Most Open and Actually Connected UC Solution

NOTE: This article is in progress and may get additional data and corrections.
NOTE: Lync can do all the below federation without additional hardware, software or licenses cost from Lync perspective.

Which major unified communication solution connects and allows you to collaborate with the most people outside your organization? In many cases with no extra hardware?

Below are some of the UC solutions Lync Server 2013 allow you to collaborate with “out of box”:

Solution

  

Users

Modalities

How

Lync On-Premise

image

+15k
Known Orgs

All

  
Office365

image

+5m

All

Click Here

Live Messenger*

image

?

IM/P/Audio/Video

Click Here

AOL/AIM

image

4m?

IM/P

Click Here

Skype

image

280m

IM/P/Audio**

n/a

USA SMS mobile*** image

+300m

IM

Click Here

Google Talk

image

423m

IM/P

Click Here
Click Here

Cisco Webex

image

unknown

IM/P

Click Here

Cisco Jabber

image

unknown

IM/P

?

IBM Sametime

image

unknown

IM/P

Click Here4

Openfire

image

unknown

IM/P

?

Avaya

image

unknown

IM/P

Click Here

BlackBerry

image

unknown

IM/P

Click Here

* will soon be rolled into Skype
** Audio coming in 2013
*** Using AOL PIC; Okay, I know we’re stretching, but there IS connectivity!
4) IBM SameTime requires gateway from IBM to connect to other solutions: Click Here

Some Commercial “Federation” Solutions

http://www.nextplane.net/microsoft-supported-uc-platforms.html
http://www.thrupoint.com/solutions/uc-federation.html

Conclusion

Perhaps you disagree? If you have a UC solution you would nominate as the “most connected feel free to nominate via comments. (But please do include sources to support)

<the end>

Skype 1/3 of Phone Call Traffic:
http://arstechnica.com/business/2013/02/skype-calls-now-equivalent-to-one-third-of-global-phone-traffic/

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8 comments:

  1. Jerome ChoutMarch 19, 2013 at 4:07 PM

    Hi Matt,
    Good job! I just have few comments:
    Skype: there are up to 44M users
    Sametime: IM/P only (IM in 1:1 or N:1 if multiparty IM is initiated by Lync. Sametime gateway does not support multiparty IM) (P is basic presence only).

    Jerome Chout

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownMarch 20, 2013 at 5:30 AM

    I don't trust the Google numbers..... they count me even though I have never used it. They seem to automatically create the UC services just because I use their advertising. Seems underhanded to me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Matt LandisMarch 20, 2013 at 5:32 AM

      yes, know what you mean. i think this is perhaps why skype uses "connected" number. just a hunch of course...

      Delete
  3. CRTSeptember 6, 2013 at 1:10 AM

    Hi Matt,
    You state that in office 365 voice is possible. In Europe it isn't possible to make voice calls to others than Lync users. There is no interconnection with Telecom operators. In the UK the provider stopped the interconnection on 30 of august and in the rest of europe there are no providers for office 365.
    For the rest, i like the analysis you make.
    Cor

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Matt LandisSeptember 6, 2013 at 9:33 AM

      Unless I'm missing it, I don't think this article states that you can call PSTN. Lync <-> Office365 is possible though.

      Delete
  4. UnknownMarch 17, 2014 at 12:51 PM

    Hey Matt,
    Do you have any articles on features for Lync vs. openfire? I am trying to write a whitepaper for this...not a lot that compares the two products.

    ReplyDelete
  5. TseluyuSeptember 4, 2014 at 1:52 PM

    Can anyone provide clarification on the Google Talk & Lync interop? Can Lync 2013 talk with Gtalk and/or Hangouts? I know google pulled the plug (or is in the process of) on XMPP, but just looking for yes or no. thanks

    ReplyDelete

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