Microsoft Lync Arrives and Brings Communications to New Heights: Microsoft Corp. today announced the general availability of Microsoft Lync, the next generation of communications that connects people in new ways. Starting today, anyone can download a free trial version of Lync at www.lync.com, and business customers can purchase Lync beginning Dec. 1. Lync is a single platform that integrates instant messaging, presence, audio, video, webconferencing and voice to bring people together in the ways they communicate best, with one interface that works with the applications businesses know and use today, including Microsoft Office, Microsoft SharePoint and Microsoft Exchange.
Logitech Introduces Broad Range of Unified Communications Solutions: Today Logitech introduced a variety of unified communications (UC) solutions to help businesses make the most out of their UC investments. With new Logitech for Business HD webcams and headsets optimized for Microsoft Lync 2010, along with a portfolio of enterprise video conferencing products from its LifeSize division, Logitech is offering a broad range of video communications solutions to businesses – from an employee’s desktop to the conference room.
Formicary Intelligent Collaboration Solutions Work with Microsoft Lync Server 2010: Formicary, a software and system integration provider and a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, has upgraded its suite of intelligent collaboration solutions to make them fully compatible with Microsoft Lync 2010, the next generation of Microsoft Corp.’s unified communications (UC) software. The upgrade means that Microsoft Lync users can benefit from Formicary’s enterprise solutions, which extend the value of the group chat environment by providing alternative methods of communication through mobile- or Web-based access.
Datapulse launches Intuition Enterprise: Datapulse, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, has launched Intuition Enterprise, a suite of interaction management applications that fully integrate with the new Microsoft 
Lync collaboration platform. Datapulse Intuition Enterprise is a portfolio of solutions that includes attendant operator console, contact centre, presence integration and call recording. This dynamic combination of Datapulse products and services further enhances the value of the Microsoft collaboration platform, allowing businesses to manage structured and unstructured interactions through integration into Microsoft’s directory and presence services.
Global Crossing SIP Trunking Solutions Qualify for Microsoft Lync Server 2010: Global Crossing, a leading global IP solutions provider, today announced that its portfolio of Session Initiated Protocol (SIP) Trunking solutions are qualified for Microsoft Lync Server 2010, enabling a feature-rich unified communications (UC) experience to customers worldwide.
Unified Communications Market Has Strongest Quarter Since 2008, According to Dell’Oro Group: Dell’Oro Group, the trusted source for market information about the networking and telecommunications industries, reported that the unified communications market expanded to its highest level since 2008 in the third quarter this year. Strong second-half seasonality helped offset weakness in Europe as the unified communications market expanded 7 percent sequentially.
Smoothstone Continues Expansion of Cloud-based Unified Communications Services into Europe: Smoothstone IP Communications, the leading provider of cloud-based enterprise unified communications applications and services, has announced the further expansion of services in Europe with full product and service availability in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Norway and Sweden.
AudioCodes Achieves Microsoft Qualification for SIP Trunking Interoperability with Verizon Business: AudioCodes, a leading provider of Voice over IP (VoIP) technologies and Voice Network products, today announced it has achieved interoperability qualification for its Mediant 3000 and Mediant 1000 Enterprise Session Border Controllers with Microsoft Lync Server 2010 and Microsoft Office Communications Server R2, when used in conjunction with Verizon Business’ SIP Trunking service. The qualification testing was conducted by tekVizion Labs, Microsoft’s Unified Communication Open Interoperability Program (UC OIP) testing partner.
Mitel Defines Freedom with Flexible Communications Architecture: Mitel, a leading provider of unified communications (UC) software solutions, today unveiled the Mitel Freedom architecture, a single, cloud-ready software stream that delivers an array of communications options for businesses looking to integrate a voice solution into best-in-class networks and applications. The Mitel Freedom architecture is designed to decrease operating costs – for example, businesses can save up to 45 percent in corporate mobility costs and reduce the number of required communications servers by as much as 85 percent.
N-able Technologies Forms Technology Alliance with Mitel to Expand Remote IP Communications Monitoring Capabilities for MSPs Worldwide: N-able Technologies, the global leader in remote network and systems management (NSM) software for IT departments and managed service providers (MSPs), today announced a technology alliance with Mitel, a leading provider of unified communications software solutions.The alliance calls for the integration of Mitel Communications Director (MCD), a flexible IP communications software solution, with N-able’s N-central NSM software platform, making customized VoIP monitoring services available to MSPs worldwide. The service provides MSPs and IT leaders with actionable insight into communications system performance and the capability for 24/7 business continuity for customers. In addition, the new alliance opens the door for MSPs to add IP communications to their service offerings.
Avaya Expands Business Collaboration for Small and Medium Enterprise Market: Avaya, Inc. today introduced the new version of Avaya IP Office – the company’s flagship communications solution for small and medium-sized enterprises (SME). Avaya IP Office Release 6.1 delivers a host of business collaboration and customer service enhancements that can improve ease-of-use and worker productivity for SME workers, and generate significant new efficiencies for businesses.
Cisco and VMware to Deliver Integrated Virtual Desktop Solution: Cisco and VMware today announced a desktop virtualization solution based on Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) and VMware View 4.5. Cisco and VMware are supporting this solution with new channel initiatives that will help channel partners accelerate deployment of virtual desktop solutions that scale to meet customers’ business needs and regulatory requirements while reducing risk and total cost of ownership (TCO).
