Today, Microsoft is announcing several products that are optimized to work with Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007. As part of today's announcement, Microsoft has launched a unified communications qualification program – including 15 phones and devices which are on the path to qualification with Office Communications Server 2007 and Office Communicator (now in public beta). These include Internet protocol (IP) phones, Universal Serial Bus (USB) phones, conferencing phones, wired and wireless headsets, Webcams, monitors, PCs and PC peripherals.
Several of these products were already out in the marketplace, but some are brand new, so let's focus on the "new" phone devices. First, the Polycom CX700 IP Phone is the mystery phone that I discussed previously. It delivers wideband audio and features a sleek design, a full duplex, hands-free speakerphone, but most importantly, the Polycom CX700 IP Phone features a fully embedded Office Communicator 2007 client, providing direct, on-device access to the features and capabilities of Office Communications Server 2007, all using a bright, touch-screen color display. For instance, from the phone you can access your Calendar information. Here's a picture of it with the Polycom logo:
The CX700 also delivers enhanced presence status information and voicemail indication via an intelligent Windows CE based user interface, and enables users to easily control their calls, including click-to-call, conferencing, transferring, holding, forwarding and ending calls. In addition, the CX700 includes a full telephone keypad, a scroll wheel for navigating the user interface and keys for controlling volume, mute, speakerphone and headset mode. The Polycom CX700 IP Phone is expected to ship in the third quarter of 2007 and will be available worldwide through Polycom sales channel partners.
The CX700 is a standalone IP Phone with the following features:
• Embedded Office Communicator 2007 client which does not require a PC to make calls or to gain access to personal and contact information. High-Fidelity Speaker and Microphone
• High-quality wideband audio for the best possible voice call quality, whether in handset, full duplex speakerphone or headset mode. Personal Configuration
• Users can use the biometric fingerprint reader or the on-screen keyboard to log in and personalize the CX700 with their own communications preferences. Easy Call Management
• Easily monitor and manage your calls through the Windows CE-based touch-screen interface. Click-to-call with name-based calling from a user’s contact list or call logs. Enhanced incoming call information lets users quickly decide how to deal with a caller.
The next product announced as part of the OCS 2007 qualification program is the LG-Nortel IP Phone 8540 which is strikingly similar to the Polycom CX700.
The phone's casing & dimensions look exactly the same and it's only the button layouts that are different. (compare this with previous photo) Even the button layouts are very similar, so perhaps Nortel OEMed this phone from Polycom or vice-versa. The LG-Nortel IP Phone 8540 is an intelligent IP Phone from LG-Nortel optimized to support Microsoft’s Unified Communications solutions. This “People Centric” standalone IP phone is a highly reliable purpose-built terminal that combines advanced voice performance with embedded Microsoft Office Communicator 2007. The LG-Nortel IP Phone 8540 helps improve productivity and work performance for information workers by offering a rich communications experience supporting simple operations, easy management, and rich presence awareness. It features name-based dialing, simple conference call setup and powerful presence status. The device includes a 5.7" TFT LCD touch-screen display and a very cool biometric (fingerprint) reader for secure login and quick, easy access to information from the device and server. Users can also login using a PIN, which will automatically load user preferences such as contacts, call logs, voicemail and other settings. When users log in to the LG-Nortel IP Phone 8540, Office Communications Server 2007 provides colleagues’ presence information, allowing users to see the other party’s availability and initiate a voice call simply by touching the screen or wheel. The LG-Nortel IP Phone 8540 supports wideband audio technology, enabling generally improved sound quality. It also features Power over Ethernet - IEEE 802.3af Class 2 (7W max)
Best of the rest:
The Polycom CX100 is a small portable (pocketable), USB-based speakerphone that interfaces seamlessly with Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 to enable high-quality hands-free calls with excellent wideband voice quality. The CX100 is identical to the previously released Polycom Communicator, a model designed to work with Skype.
Interestingly, the CX100 won't be available until 3rd quarter 2007 when in theory it should work now, since as far as I can tell both models simply using the standard Microsoft USB audio class, so it isn't a matter of the software being ready. Heck I have a Polycom Communicator sitting on my desk now that I installed (with no drivers needed) and used it as a speakerphone device from everything from Skype calls to Windows Media Player streaming radio. It works as an audio device for any application. Although I should point out that the Communicator has a blue Skype button on it to launch the Skype application, so perhaps it's a matter of getting the units manufactured with a Microsoft Office Communicator button instead. Also, for the Skype integration I did need to install Polycom's software, so it could be a combination of hardware and software.
The Jabra GN9350 (see me review on the 9350) is among the first wireless headsets for VoIP on the market that features wideband audio. It has an impressive 6.8 kHz audio bandwidth that is more than twice that of conventional telephones and leverages DECT 6.0 for excellent voice quality, distance, and long battery life.
Others in the OCS 2007 qualification program:
- Polycom CX200 Desktop Phone Wired USB phone with speakerphone, aka "Catalina"
- Polycom CX400 Cordless Phone, aka "Orca" - roam up to 30 feet (10 meters) from their computer. The CX400 handset contains a high-resolution color display that provides enhanced presence information and call status details. The CX400’s base cradle connects and powers through an integrated USB cable for easy installation, and charges the CX400 handset battery for up to 10 hours of talk time. The CX400 is fully Plug-and- Play compatible, requiring no special drivers or software includes keys for controlling volume, mute speakerphone mode and use of an external headset. LE D indicators provide the user with call forwarding status and message waiting indication. A large LE D conveys the presence status of the user. The Polycom CX200 Desktop Phone connects and powers through an integrated USB cable
- LG-Nortel Bluetooth Headset (IP8502) is a Bluetooth wireless solution (with USB-to-PC connectivity) that is "optimized" to work with Microsoft Office Communications 2007. It's just your standard USB/Bluetooth wireless device, that allows you to make or receive calls on your PC without speakerphones as well as hear any PC audio applications wirelessly, but Microsoft has stamped it OCS 2007 "optimized".
- Jabra GN2000 - Wired USB headset with on/off hook and volume control
- Jabra GN9330 - Wireless USB headset
- LG-Nortel USB Phone (IP8501) - Wired USB handset with speakerphone, aka «Catalina»
- NEC UC Phone – USB phone device
- Plantronics - Bluetooth headset
- Vitelix VX-100 - Wired USB phone without dialpad
- Vitelix VX-200 & VX-200 duo- Wired USB phones with additional features over VX-100 model 9i.e. LED indicators and keypad); VX-200 duo is a dual-mode phone (VoIP or PSTN, and other advanced features)
- The ASUS S7F is a new laptop with a built-in 1.3 megapixel 235° webcam that is optimized to work with OCS 2007.
- the SyncMaster 225UW is a new flatscreen LCS monitor that comes equipped with a built-in 2.0M pixel high-resolution webcam, dual-array microphone and speakers. It too is stamped as OCS 2007 "optimized". It features a 5ms response time, a 700:1 contrast ratio and 300cd/m2 brightness, the model is equipped to produce crisp, true-to-life images, while the wide 170/160 viewing angle further enhances the overall viewing experience. The monitor also incorporates a 2 port USB hub and dual inputs (DVI-D & Analog).
One final point, beginning this week, customers will be able to order partner-built Microsoft Unified Communications phones and devices to evaluate alongside the beta version of Office Communications Server 2007 and Office Communicator 2007.
android apple asterisk at&t blackberry cell phone cisco dell digium e911 facebook fcc google google talk gps im ip-pbx ipad iphone ipod itexpo ITEXPO lync microsoft mobile phone open source outage phone review sip skype sony unified communications verizon video video conferencing voip vonage wireless xbox 360
- Apple (280)
- Bittorrent (2)
- Call Center and CRM (48)
- Computer Hardware (183)
- Computer Software (71)
- Gadgets (650)
- Google (225)
- Home Entertainment (263)
- Internet (173)
- Linux (111)
- Microsoft (376)
- MovableType (48)
- News (187)
- Personal and Humor (118)
- Politics (9)
- Reviews (246)
- Security (2)
- Social Networking (42)
- Sports/Outdoor Technology (9)
- Tablets (32)
- Technology and Science (355)
- Unified Communications (471)
- VoIP (2285)
- Wireless (584)
- p2p (20)
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
- May 2006
- April 2006
- March 2006
- February 2006
- January 2006
- December 2005
- November 2005
- October 2005
- September 2005
- August 2005
- July 2005
- June 2005
- May 2005
- April 2005
- March 2005
- February 2005
- January 2005
- December 2004
- November 2004
- October 2004
- September 2004
- August 2004
- July 2004
- June 2004
- May 2004
- April 2004
- March 2004
Featured Videos