Microsoft Lync Next Gen Unified Communications Released to Manufacturing (RTM)

Microsoft’s next generation unified communications solution has reached an important milestone, namely the end of the development process. And with Microsoft Lync now released to manufacturing, the focus shifts away from the engineering efforts and onto bringing the offering to customers worldwide.

The Redmond company reveals that it is right on track to bringing Microsoft Lync to market by the end of the year.

In fact, even before Lync hit RTM, the software giant had already announced the launch deadline. Release is set for November 17th, 2010 at an event in New York.

Unfortunately, I’ll not be able to attend the launch, but I cover the release nonetheless, so make sure to keep your eyes on Softpedia.

Customers already leveraging unified communications solutions from Microsoft are undoubtedly familiar with the Office Communications Server and Communicator. Well, Microsoft Lync 2010 is the successor of Office Communications Server and Communicator 2007.

And just like its predecessor, Lync enables customers to take advantage of enterprise grade instant messaging, presence, video and voice capabilities, streamlining communications.

Kirk Gregersen, Sr. Director for Lync promised that “the Lync 2010 release takes collaboration and productivity to the next level by:

•Providing a single platform that integrates the various modes of communication necessary for people and businesses to be productive. It does this for the end user via a single client experience, and on the back-end with a unified infrastructure and management experience.

•Enabling an extensible and open platform that invites corporate and professional developers around the world to help us provide customers with greater flexibility.

•Rounding out enterprise voice capabilities so that Lync can help the broadest set of customers reduce legacy infrastructure costs and enhance that infrastructure with an incredibly rich set of softphone capabilities.

•Supporting our partner community by enabling them to provide an optimized experience with Lync. This is exemplified by the enormous range of devices available from partners around the world.”

The November 17th, 2010 general availability deadline is the next milestone for Lync. The UC solution will be launched to customers worldwide, Gregersen explains, noting that the event will be keynoted by Chris Capossela, senior vice president of the Microsoft Office Division.

“If you caught our Office 365 disclosure last week, you saw that the next version of cloud productivity from Microsoft will also deliver the 2010 suite of products, including Office, Sharepoint, Exchange and Lync, to customers of all sizes,” he added.