I was just checking out Rich's impressions of the Microsoft UC launch since he was actually there in the audience to gauge the audience's reactions. Rich writes, "Perhaps the most memorable moment about the event so far other than the dry ice smoke and blaring guitar at the start of the day is the fact the audience actually clapped when they saw how a conference call can be initiated with a simple mouse click."
I too picked up on this strong audience reaction to the simple mouse-click and drag-and-drop conferencing ability. (I was streaming the video of the UC launch.) As CTO and as a former IT Manager, I also speak from experience that no matter how many times I trained a sales person how to make a conference call, they would simply forget the next day because it's too complicated to remember. (no offense my fellow sales co-workers!)
It's surprising that TMC has covered this conferencing usability issue since 1996 when TMC launched CTI Magazine, a magazine dedicated to covering the integration of the computer and the telephone (hence CTI - Computer Telephony Integration) and how CTI would make using the phone much easier to use by leveraging the computer's user interface (UI).
In fact, all of TMC's publications, including Internet Telephony Magazine and Customer Interaction Solutions have been espousing the need for a "better phone" that leverages the computer with its more powerful and flexible UI. Well, it only took 11 years, but it appears Microsoft may have finally gotten it right with Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2007 (OCS 2007).
Looks like one of Microsoft OCS 2007's major selling points might be that FINALLY sales people can initiate a conference call without pestering IT staff. Glory be!
I too picked up on this strong audience reaction to the simple mouse-click and drag-and-drop conferencing ability. (I was streaming the video of the UC launch.) As CTO and as a former IT Manager, I also speak from experience that no matter how many times I trained a sales person how to make a conference call, they would simply forget the next day because it's too complicated to remember. (no offense my fellow sales co-workers!)
It's surprising that TMC has covered this conferencing usability issue since 1996 when TMC launched CTI Magazine, a magazine dedicated to covering the integration of the computer and the telephone (hence CTI - Computer Telephony Integration) and how CTI would make using the phone much easier to use by leveraging the computer's user interface (UI).
In fact, all of TMC's publications, including Internet Telephony Magazine and Customer Interaction Solutions have been espousing the need for a "better phone" that leverages the computer with its more powerful and flexible UI. Well, it only took 11 years, but it appears Microsoft may have finally gotten it right with Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2007 (OCS 2007).
Looks like one of Microsoft OCS 2007's major selling points might be that FINALLY sales people can initiate a conference call without pestering IT staff. Glory be!
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Tom, your coverage on OCS is good, but it is missing one thing. The cost.
Can you do a breakdown of the cost of deployment for a 25 person office? I can't find that info anywhere. Exchange Licenses, Server Licenses, OCS licenses etc? What PBX's are supported, how much are they etc.?
I have this suspicion this thing will be in 2K per user to deploy fully.
Andrew,
Does this help?
Pricing/Licensing Info
Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 Licensing Information:
For most customers, the CAL and Server costs L: $21.48 SA (1 yr): $5.40
and the Standard and Enterprise servers cost
L: $487.56 SA (1 yr): $121.92 and
L: $2790.60 SA (1 yr): $697.68 respectively.
Pretty inexpensive actually.
Microsoft Office Communicator 2007:
There is a cost for customers who do not have rights to Office Pro Plus 2007 or Office Enterprise 2007, or who are not entitled the rights through SA on previous versions of Live Communications Server.
Tom,
Not wishing to pour cold water on the 'ease of conferencing provided by OCS' statement, but we have been doing it for years!.
Our solution allows users to simply click on the parties required and it conferences instantly - both internal and external parties.
I can use ANY phone for the actual voice device, graphically see when people are in or out of conference, dynamically add/remove people and provide dial-in guest access of required - all from a simple web portal, often remotely just using my home phone.
Long way to go Microsoft!.