Wendell Martin, Sales Manager at Landis Computer Technology Solutions, gives his experience using the Plantronics Blackwire C720.
Below is our First Impression Review of Plantronics Blackwire C720: click here
Wendell Martin, Sales Manager at Landis Computer Technology Solutions, gives his experience using the Plantronics Blackwire C720.
Below is our First Impression Review of Plantronics Blackwire C720: click here
What if external users could interact with Lync user via a web URL? To initiate communication as opposed to current LWA that requires the Lync user to initiate?
Below are some items I’ve noticed around Microsoft Lync coming out of ITExpo Las Vegas 2013. You can book mark as we will update as new items announced.
ITExpo website: click here
Take a look at Lync Partner Solutions Pavilion and events: click here
Below is my video review.
Audiocodes HD 420HD
Side view
Screen 144x48 pixels
Wallmount vs Desk configuration
Wall mount
Headset, power, PC and Network Ethernet switch
What’s in the box
WebGui looks very similar to Audiocodes gateways and is very accessible.
Codec Support from 420HD web interface shown below. (NOTE: Audiocodes FW release notes indicate Audiocodes has plans to add RTA (Real Time Audio) codec support sometime after Lync certification process complete.
Notes: Audiocodes notes they are in the process of obtaining Lync Qualified status for Audiocodes 420HD but at the moment it is not certified the 420HD has become Lync Qualified on Sept ember 2013. (click here) Since this is a new Lync device (review done using FW 2.0.1.44.5) some features are currently not implemented that will be on final product.
Pros
Cons
The Audiocodes 420HD seems to me to be a well designed common area and entry level desk phone that can register to Lync and SIP servers. (At the moment the 420HD is not Lync certified) It appears to me that Audiocodes 4xxHD series is designed to be well tuned to the needs of the “PBX experience user”. I think it is good to see Audiocodes planning to join snom and Polycom in the Lync Qualified devices market.
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http://unifiedme.co.uk/2013/07/configuring-audiocodes-400hd-series-phones-with-lync-server-2013/
Below is my video review of the Logitech H650e USB headset that is Lync Optimized.
Logitech has a new focus on enterprise devices branded as “Logitech for Business” and the Logitech USB Headset Stereo H650e is one of the devices in the line up. (Some others: the Logitech c930e)
Below is a picture of the headset. The H650e is a well built headset that has all the standard features you expect from a stereo USB headset. It does stereo, wideband audio, has acoustic echo cancelation and noise cancelling mic.
I would point out the unique flat tangle resistant USB cord.
The controls for the 650e are on the cord and include: Mute, Pickup/Hang-up, Up and down volume. A nice touch is that you can feel the Up volume versus the Down volume by the raised plus button.
The volume has 25 settings. Top and bottom of range is indicated by a “double beep” and position in range is audibly indicated through the headset.
To visually set or see the audio, click on Windows Speaker tray icon during a call.
The Pickup/Hang-up button has a white indicator light and mute has a red light.
The H650e has a flexible microphone boom that has a rubberized feel. As you will note in the picture above and below, the USB cord is well protected for daily use by “bend protectors” at the plug, controller and entry into the headset, which seems like a very good design to me.
The H650e has a red light to indicate that headset wearer is on a call. This is viewable from behind.
Other stuff in the box: getting Started guide, storage/protector pouch and clip to fasten cord.
The H650e is a Stereo headset so if you want stereo sound delivered when it is available, go into Lync Options | Audio Device and check “Stereo audio playback”. (some premium Lync Optimized device willl create actual stereo sound. examples: Lync Room Systems, the Logitech c930e and some other devices)
There is also a mono version of the H650e. Also there is a DECT wireless version call the Logitech Wireless Headset Dual H820e. (review coming soon)
Pros
Cons
My experience with the H650e is that is just works and provides excellent headset quality and experience at a quite reasonable price. When combined with the Logitech c930e you get an audio/video experience with technical specs that, at the moment, are hard to match from another single vendor. If you are a “Plantronics shop”, Logitech for Business is giving some very real reasons to look at alternatives.
I was just alerted to the fact that there is a new Lync Survivable Branch option called the “Resilient Branch Appliance” or RBA. The RBA brings branch survivability via 3G/4G wireless mobile broadband to keep the signaling and data layers operational during WAN outage.
From my quick reading it appears that 3G/4G keeps signaling, presence, address book and web conferencing going during an outage of WAN. Voice is handled via PSTN breakout.
This means that there are 3 options for branch survivability: RBA, SBA and SBS. Alan Percy, in his article on the Audiocodes RBA, gives the below comparison of the RBA, SBA, SBS:
An article by Telecom reseller notes that RBA’s are designed for <15 Office # of Seats, which means the RBA is designed for very small offices. (not sure Telecom resellers source for this though)
The RBA is an interesting idea new option in the survivability line-up, but it should be remembered that it’s design will not survive a datacenter WAN interruption.
RBA Models:
RBA Configuration:
Sonus: Click Here
NOTE: I’m still trying to figure out if this is an official Microsoft moniker or just vendors (Audiocodes and Sonus mention it). I don’t see it mentioned here. or here.
I need to admit that if I had my dream SBA it might include the below features:
See the links below for more information from vendors Audiocodes and Sonus on the RBA:
Audiocodes: http://blog.lyncmigration.com/2013/08/the-cloud-and-lync-survivability.html
Audiocodes models: click here
Sonus
http://stage.sonus.net/sites/default/files/DS_ResilientBranch_9_May_2013.pdf
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Cisco SRST: Click Here
An tweet by Mark Gillett, CVP Skype & Lync at Microsoft, alerted me to the fact that Skype now runs in the browser via a small plugin.
How do you get going? Skype didn’t overly advertise to me to download the plugin. Actually I had a little time finding it. (probably looking too hard…) Below are the steps I followed:
Goto People and find a user that is online. Now click on Video Call.
You will be asked to agree to a TOU & Privacy Policy.
Now the plugin will start downloading.
The plugin is approximately 4MB. (as shown below)
Watch for the Security Warning and click Run
Done!
You can now start a call either from the People screen or the Communication pane.
The Skype plugin is a different Window. (from the browser)
Call in progress
Pop out IM during a call
You can also launch via the Communication pane.
Our Outlook
Some notes:
It looks like Skype is okay running in the browser. (albeit using a plug-in) Will there be this same openness to running “native” in a browser? Interesting road ahead.
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The above is a picture of the CX500 Wallmount.
Some quick clarification around Polycom CX500 Wallmout Kit 2200-44331-001:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-1-Wall-Jack-Phone-Mount-Wall-Plate-White-76294/202698507
According to a recent video created by snom, it appears that snom UC Edition (Lync Qualified) will get another new feature: centralized phone setting provisioning. The video references (but not necessarily limited to) the below settings:
The video does not elaborate but considering it notes that “all you need to do is type in your login credentials” it would almost sound like this will somehow leverage native Lync Server functionality.
This is a quite interesting development considering that even Lync Phone Edition devices currently have no way of mass provisioning device and user settings centrally.
Is this the new feature snom has noted it will unveil at IT Expo? I guess we’ll wait and see.
Elan Shudnow has an excellent article on this so I won’t redo his work. Take a look here:
http://www.shudnow.net/2013/03/03/enabling-qos-for-lync-server-2013-and-various-clients-part/
It will get its DSCP tagging values directly from Lync Server via the Device Configuration | Voice Quality of Service value:
NOTE: Still checking if snom UC Edition gets DSCP value from Lync Device policy. If you know, welcome your comment.
By default snom UC Edition devices are set to DSCP 40 (which matches Lync Server defaults). To change the DSCP value (or look what it is) log into snom web UI: (NOTE: the below snom device has been changed to DSCP 46 using snom TOS value of 184)
Here is a chart to cross reference snom TOS value and standard DSCP dec values:
http://wiki.snom.com/FAQ/What_does_the_TOS_value_160_mean
Voice Over IP | Signaling Protocols | QOS Parameter
Install Wireshark on the PC (to see traffic from Server) and/or Server.
Now expand the “Differentiated Services Field” under “Internet Protocol Version 4” and check the value pointed out in the picture below.
Lync Ideascale is a community based forum started in 2008 to give everyone a way to give quick, structured, informal (Microsoft does not support this community in any way) feedback on the Microsoft Lync product. (actually I started this forum to create an organized way to store my list of wishes, but it quickly became more than that). Since then it has grown to over 350 contributors, 132 ideas and over 13,000 votes. As with other Lync efforts I’ve initiated, this one has grown way beyond what I initially expected.
While started to make a list of “wishes” Lync.ideascale has become much much more valuable in three ways:
Below are some quick statistics to give you an idea what is happening at Lync.Ideascale:
Some quick visual charts:
Some tips when using Lync.Ideascale
Some other industry mentions I’ve noticed include Bern Elliot of Gartner. I don’t know if this makes compiling the “UC Magic Quadrant” report easier, but it certainly is a ground level view of Lync. Also appreciate the mention on the UC Architects Podcast in Episode 20.(another huge source Lync community created content)
Finally, thanks for you contribution on Lync.Ideascale…It has grown way above my initial expectation due to your help! And thanks for all your contributions to the Lync Community generally, Microsoft Lync is buzzing online because of it.