Today, Microsoft released Lync for Android. In an interesting twist, it appears Microsoft released Lync for Android before Apple iOS. It seems more and more these days that Android is getting the app love before the popular iOS platform.

Lync 2010 for Android includes features such as rich presence, instant messaging, audio conferencing, and calling features.

Key Features:

- View colleagues’ availability in real time and select the best way to communicate – initiating an instant message (IM), email, or a phone call.

- Connect to Lync conference calls with a single touch, without requiring long numeric passcodes or conference numbers.

- Forward or simultaneously ring calls to your Enterprise Voice (Lync ID) number so you’ll never miss a call.

- Lync 2010 for Android provides transport layer security (TLS) and perimeter/internal network protection without requiring a VPN, so your communications experience is safer no matter where you are or what network you use.

As I mentioned in a previous post, Lync for Android is lacking some key features, including no visual voicemail, no call via work, no single number reach, no dial pad, no send location/map, and no push notifications. On the bright side, it does run as a background app.

Download it here