Microsoft’s Secrect UC Advantage: It’s Community Is Vastly More “Social” Than UC Industry In General?

 

Enterprise Connect 2013 Has approximately 5,000 attendees.
Lync Conference 2013 has approximately 1,000 attendees.

According to hashtags.org analysis of #EC13 using 1% sampling there were approximately 3,100 Twitter posts on 3/18, Day1 of EC13. On the first day of #LyncConf13 there around 2,000 posts. If I’m doing my math correct, 2 social interactions per attendee at Lync Conference 2013 with less than 1 per attendee at EC13.

If these number are indeed accurate, is this indicating an unseen advantage? If it is, is Microsoft even responsible for this? And is there a kind of irony in that Microsoft UC currently does not embrace social into its UC offering?

Lync News Out of Enterprise Connect 2013 #EC13

I plan to be attending EC13 as a “work from home” attendee. (Due the the exciting new possibilities of UC this should very possible, right? To bad I don’t have one of these-> click here)

Website: http://www.enterpriseconnect.com/orlando/
Twitter Hashtag: #EC13
Streamed KeyNote 3/19: Click Here

I will be posting Lync announcements and things of note in this post. (If you are at EC13 in person and have something you want to nudge me with, feel free to ping me @matthewlandis.)

General Announcements/Take Away

• 3/18 - Approximately 5,000 people expected at EC13 (source: click here)
• 3/18 - WebRTC Session Expanded to Support Crowd (click here)
  • WebRTC Session Causes “Walls To Be Torn Down” at EC13! :) (photo click here)
  • something over 100 attendees (estimated 150-300): click here
• 3/18 - Albert Kooiman, Senior Product Manager Microsoft Notes: “no update on IE support [for WebRTC]” click here
  • What Microsoft Has Previously Said About WebRTC and Lync: Click Here
• 3/18 - Microsoft Giovinni Mezgec Notes Microsoft Itself Federates With 7,000 Organizations Click Here
• 3/18 - Stuart Monks of Polycom and Ofer Shapiro of Vidyo Note They Will Not Be Using WebRTC on Desktop or Mobile Clients  “…For Quite Some Time” Click Here
• 3/19- Big UC Vendors Note Their Own Federation Stats With Customers: Microsoft 7,000, Cisco 2,000, Avaya None. Click Here
• 3/20 – Lync Contact Center Vendors Start Making Skype a Part of Their Strategy: Clarity Connect PR Click Here
• 3/20 - in EC13 Keynote, Microsoft's Derek Burney Notes Lync Web App Uses a PlugIn Today, But Lync Will Support WebRTC As Soon As Standard Is Finalized: Click Here (Click Here for my complete article on this)
• 

Vendor Announcements

• 3/19 HP Intros MSR30 & MSR50 Survivable Branch Communication Module (with Lync SBA software) Submitted for Lync Certification According to HP Click Here
• 3/19 Polycom Achieves Lync 2013 Qualification for VVX500/600; VVX300/400 projected for Q2; HDX and Real presence compatible in June 2013 Click Here
• 3/18 David Danto Notes Cisco To Introduce DX650 Android Based “Smart Desk Phone” Tomorrow Click Here (Click Here)
  • 1080p/ 30fps video
  • 7” Touch display
  • Android O/S
  • HDMI output for external monitor support
  • 3 USB/ Bluetooth/ WIFI/ SD Card/ POE
• 3/18 Smart Lync Room System to Retail for $19,999 Click Here Product Details: Click Here
• 3/18 Microsoft Lync Video Interoperability Click Here
• 3/18 snom  UC Edition Phones (Mar 18, 2013) Click Here
  • snom publicly announces they will support the below features which are currently in “advanced development stage”
    • Enhanced Better Together: Deeper integration and support for Lync collaboration and calling features, including Click to Call.
    • Lync Conference User Interface: Enhanced, seamless user experience for joining and participating in Lync web conferences, using snom UC edition phones.
    • 802.1x Authentication: Robust, wired endpoint security for Lync with voice deployments.
  • No Need to Manually Load snom UC Edition (Lync) Firmware for Lync Server
• 3/18 LifeSize LRS1000 Lync Room System Click Here

Do You Want a Live Interview From EC13 Expo Floor?

Some Lync product vendors have been asking me if I can chat and/or interview them: the answer is yes, but remotely.

• REQUIREMENTS: All you need to do is have working internet connection and laptop and we can do a video interview using Lync
• WEBCAM PLACEMENT:  I suggest placing your laptop (or lync 2013 mobile) in relatively quiet place in expo hall with expo or other EC13 activity in the background.
• TO SCHEDULE: Contact me @matthewlandis and we will arrange schedule.

Other Notes:
Graph about Modality Usage: http://fonolo.com/blog/2013/03/contact-center-technology-thats-impacting-customer-service/?ls=web_twitter

Google Blocking XMPP Invites From Federated Partners

As a big promoter of federation, this latest move by Google’s XMPP chat service got my attention. Free Software Foundation has noted that Google is blocking invites to be added to GoogleTalk contact list from federated XMPP partners:

“Recently, some of our members started reporting that they were no longer able to add contacts at GoogleTalk, which is the Jabber service Google provides to Gmail users. Since Google has run a fully federated Jabber service for a long time and ours is new, we investigated under the assumption the problem was on our end. Turns out, Google has started blocking invites sent from non-Google Jabber servers. Subscription requests just disappear mysteriously, confusing both users and server operators

You can read the entire article by FSF by clicking here.

Who Is Affected By the Problem?

Since Microsoft Lync 2013 has native XMPP federation capability, this affects Lync community. Our Lync team has done a quick test and noted that Lync to Gmail Chat invites seem to no longer reach Gmail users. At this time we have had other verify the below solutions are affected by the blocking:

• Lync 2013
• Lync via NextPlane 
• OCS 2007 R2
• OpenFire Server

 

What is the precise problem?

Contact list invites from federated XMPP partners are not reaching Gmail users. (a secondary problem is that presence from Gmail to federated partners shows either offline or incorrect)

What Is a Work Around?

What you need to do for now is email the Gmail user you want to have add you to their contact list in Gmail chat and IM/P will work then.

Ongoing UPDATES on Google XMPP to Federated Partners Issues

Date	Action
3/19/2013	Gmail to Federated partner XMPP presence now seems to be working; Contact list invites still seem to be blocked.

NOTE: Other Lync Server 2013 admin notes challenges with Google XMPP Federation: Click Here
NOTE: Office 365 does not include the Lync Server XMPP feature. Source: Click Here

Google notes they are taking this action to fight spam invites from certain domains. There is the possibility of having Gmail administrators add your XMPP domain added to a whitelist. (still getting details on this.)

Conclusion

This underscores a point: Standards alone are certainly not a guarantee that frictionless connectivity between people will occur.

Source: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/sysadmin/google-backslides-on-federated-instant-messaging-on-purpose

How To Enable XMPP Federation to Google: Click Here

Windows Live Messenger: The Reports of My Death Are Greatly Exaggerated, I Will Actually Retire on April 8, 2013

It was previously announced that WLM would be officially retired on March 15, 2013 but the new date is April 8, 2013.

And will Windows Live Messenger actually die on April 9? No. A better name might be retirement, or perhaps more accurate is: get a name change.

Indeed it appears that April 8 is merely step 1 of the Live Messenger branding retirement process.  Microsoft is NOT pulling the plug on their LIve Messenger infrastructure and servers, but merely disallowing the Live Messenger client to login to the Live Messenger infrastructure. What will happen April 8, 2013?

• You will no longer be able to login to Live Messenger using the Live Mesenger client, you will need to use the Skype client to login.
• 3rd Party Apps (IM+, Trilllian, etc) will still be allowed to login to Live Messenger until sometime in 2014 (Source: click here)
• Live Messenger in China will continue to work
• YOU will now need to use the latest Skype client to login to what used to be Live Messenger

In the mean time Skype is noting that Skype and Messenger are coming together (very accurate wording indeed!) and…

…Live Messenger is encouraging people to upgrade to the latest version of the Windows Live Messenger client: Skype.

Some other Lync <-> Skype articles you might have interest in:

• How to prepare for the great demise of WLM? Click Here
• How Does Lync <-> Skype Federation Work Under the Hood? Click Here
• How Do I Enable Lync <-> Skype Federation from Skype Side? Click Here
• How Much Will Lync <-> Skype Federation Cost? Click Here
• The Different Between Skype and Lync: Click Here
• Nov 2012: Lync <-> Skype IM/P Has Started Working: Click Here
• Feb 2013: Lync <-> Skype Voice Has Started Working for Some: Click Here

Real World Questions Your Lync 2013 Mobile Users Will Be Asking You Very Soon

I have written an in depth article on “Everything You Wanted to Know About Lync 2013 Mobile” from a list of features perspective. Now that we have Lync 2013 Mobile and can put it through the paces we know even more. Below are some FAQ and scenario your users more than likely will be asking you about very soon.

 

Note That Call-Via-Work versus VoIP Modes Makes Call Forwarding Work Entirely Different

Lync 2013 Mobile can make calls using Call-Via-Work or VoIP. It is helpful to keep clear in our minds that the Call Forwarding setting works entirely different when in these two different modes, which may not be immediately clear to the users.

• When in VoIP mode, Call Forwarding acts just like Call Forwarding on the Lync desktop client: It determines if you want to forward calls to another phone number. In VoIP mode there is NO WAY to stop ringing your mobile separately from other Lync clients or phones attatched to this Lync user.
• When in Call-Via-Work mode, Call Forwarding determines if YOUR MOBILE will ring or not.

 

In VoIP Mode, How Do I Keep My Mobile Device From Ringing When I Am Sitting at My Desk?

As noted above, with Lync 2010 Mobile  a user could easily determine if they wanted calls to come to a mobile device using Call Forwarding settings.

It is easy for me to see users that are sitting at their desk most of the day while occasionally being out on the road to find this not what they wanted. How can users temporarily turn off ringing at their mobile while allowing their desk phone or client to continue to ring? Some options the user has:

• log out of Lync 2013 Mobile
• turn VoIP over WIFI off and don’t connect to WIFI (now the phone will act in Call-Via Work mode and you can use Call Forwarding to turn ringing off)

 

How Do I Move a Call From Lync Desktop Client to My Lync 2013 Mobile Using VoIP?

The best way to move a call from from Lync Phone or Lync client on PC is to Park the call, then pickup the park on Lync 2013 Mobile. Not supported.

Using Lync 2010 Mobile, if you were on your Lync for PC and wanted to move a call to your mobile device you would click Transfer and select your mobile device (basically a phone number) from the drop down. Now Lync would transfer the current call to the phone number. (your mobile device phone number) With Lync 2013 Mobile using VoIP this still could work, but will be transferring the call to your mobile, not to Lync 2013 on your mobile.

What Happens When I Roam Between Networks With Lync 2013 Mobile During a Call? How Will Network Handover Work?

There are 3 hand over situations one can imagine:

1. Fast handover between managed WIFI AP’s:  Works
2. Between Separate Data Networks (Enterprise WIFI to 4G for example)
3. Between some data network and mobile provider Voice Network (fall back to Call-Via-Work)

Option 1 will work because it is handled by the WIFI AP but 2 & 3 will require ending call and starting a new call.

Ruben Nauwelaers addresses this question with a complete blog here:
http://www.pro-exchange.be/blogs/lync2013/archive/2013/03/14/lync-2013-mobile-and-handover-support.aspx

What Happens If My Mobile Phone Does Not Have Data Connection, Will I Still Receive Calls? Yes.

The simple answer is that Lync Server will fall back to Call-Via-Work and call your mobile phone using mobile Voice minutes.  Lync Server will try via VoIP but if that fails it will call the mobile phone’s voice number to ensure the call goes through.

Can My Lync 2013 Mobile Be a Part of a Response Group? Yes. No.

If a Lync Mobile user is a part of a Response Group Lync 2013 Mobile will ring, but you will not be able to answer the call.

Since Lync 2013 Mobile in VoIP mode connects to the Lync Server like a Lync client, this means it can ring as part of a Response Group. In our testing there is a little delay before you can answer the call which is indicated by a beep every second and then silence when audio can start to flow.

When Can I answer a response group?
http://windowspbx.blogspot.com/2012/05/lync-response-group-answer-experience.html

Can Lync 2013 Mobile Handle Multiple Calls? Yes.

Yes, the client handles multiple calls very smoothly from the first notification (same experience as the mobile phone on wp8), to indicating call timer, to switching between calls. Below is the incoming call notification on a 2nd incoming call.

Below you can see the active call and 1 call On Hold.

To see all call on hold you use Back button or “see conversations” menu item.

Below on the conversations screen you can see the various calls in progress.

 

Can I Park a Call With Lync 2013 Mobile? No

Currently you can not place a call in park but you can pickup a call that has been parked by someone else. In fairness this could be the most likely scenario. Call Park is not supported.

Does Lync 2013 Mobile have Call Transfer? Yes (arrived in WindowsPhone/iPhone July 2013 Update)

Yes, Lync mobile call transfer works roughly similar to the Lync Phone Edition call transfer experience. At this time transfer directly to voicemail is not implemented.

Are Device Contacts Integrated Into the Lync 2013 Mobile Experience? Yes.

On both iPhone/iPad and WindowsPhone8 the devices contacts are integrated into the Lync experience. On the iPhone/iPad there is an actual mobile device contact list by tapping on “iphone” inside the Lync client.

For WindowsPhone8 you can click Search and start typing a name you want to look up. This will show contacts from both Exchange/Lync and your local device. They will be labeled as “Device Contact” so you know where the contact is coming from.

Below is a Lync contact.

NOTE: Whether Lync can search Device Contacts is controllable via a policy/setting of Lync Mobile.

This has already been noted in prior post, but at this time you cannot add contacts using Lync 2013 Mobile.

Does the Lync 2013 Mobile Provide Music On Hold? No.

Currently Lync 2013 Mobile will trigger the default “Ker-Chung” sound to Lync callers that are put on hold. (unless, of course, you have a gateway setup to provide MOH to PSTN callers.) Lync 2013 Mobile will act much like LPE “Aries” prior to FW version 7577.4366. (More on Lync Music on Hold Click Here)

At a Glance How Do I Know If Lync Client is Connected?

The whole Lync screen goes into a greyscale to indicated not connected.

Connected.

Conclusion

Microsoft has released a very good VoIP and Video client for Lync.

Portable Dect and WIFI manufacturers may be getting [more than] a bit nervous due to the arrival of Lync 2013 Mobile, since it can provide in many cases better functionality than dedicated devices. The Lync team at Lync Conference did note that various features that didn’t make it in revision one are on the roadmap.

This new VoIP client for Lync could make bringing an Android based IP desk phone to market without spending massive development on Lync SIP stack and firmware an interesting possibility.