Microsoft has announced the release candidate of Microsoft Lync, the latest version of its unified communications software, providing advances in video and audio conferencing, application and desktop sharing, instant messaging, and telephony.
According to Microsoft’s announcement, the Lync family of products will take over those formerly known as Communications Server, Communications Online and Communicator, and will also introduce Lync Web App, and Lync Online.
The release candidates of Lync 2010 and Lync Server 2010 are now available as a free trial. This broad release candidate represents the last step before release to manufacturing and general availability, which is scheduled for later this year. Microsoft will share more about Lync Online, which provides a hosted solution, in the coming months.
Lync delivers on this vision by unifies enterprise voice, instant messaging and Web, audio, and videoconferencing into a new, connected communications experience.
Microsoft Lync enables any interaction to include multimedia such as video, application and desktop sharing, and instant messaging. It was also designed from the ground up to work seamlessly with Microsoft Office, SharePoint and Exchange, helping reduce end-user adoption hurdles and increase return on investment.
Lync also enables people to stay connected on a wide range of devices while away from the office, and manage their communications and calls in new ways, such as moving a call from a PC to a mobile device, while leaving the office without disrupting the conversation.
More than 30 Microsoft partners have already announced beta versions of their Lync-compatible hardware (including various Lync-optimized IP phones and USB endpoints), and software (such as contact centers, call recording, accounting and other applications), as well as various service products. Lync also works with routing services, enabling companies to meet United States E-911 requirements for all US-based workers, regardless of location.