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Skype & Lync May Well Make Unified Communications Federation Happen

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July 30, 2012

Skype & Lync May Well Make Unified Communications Federation Happen

By Steve Anderson, Contributing TMCnet Writer


The idea of a unified communications federation isn't exactly new, but despite the fact that users have been craving it, and vendors have been working to make it happen, the idea of deep integration--not to mention interoperability--has been a dream for some time. But with the recent moves that Skype (News - Alert) and Lync are making, it's an increasingly likely bet that the unified communications federation goes from a nebulous long-term ambition to a thing of the near-term future.


Microsoft (News - Alert) has been increasingly moving toward the concept of UC federation, as evidenced by its recent advances in integrations with Office 2013. But it has also looked to step that up by allowing Lync to work with such major communications tools as AOL (News - Alert) Instant Messenger, Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo Messenger and Google Talk. This by itself is quite a development, but it only gets more interesting when the reports show that Skype is expected to federate with Lync as well, especially since Microsoft recently acquired Skype.

Microsoft's response has been less than forthcoming thus far, with an e-mail from the company calling the Skype integration "an ambitious effort and a long-term investment.” That same e-mail referred to future developments in which business users would have the opportunity to use Skype's video chat functions in future Lync versions.

Since Skype is already commonly used, users won't have to clear it with their IT departments in order to get in on the proceedings, and that will make things a lot easier for the UC federation concept. Better yet, much of Microsoft's product line is already sanctioned, and that adds still more capability to the picture. Basically, the combination of Microsoft's sterling reputation in the IT community--virtually no one questions a Microsoft product--and Skype's huge footprint gives the idea of UC federation a whole lot of room in which to run. Indeed, the combination of two such forces makes the idea of UC federation more likely to fire up now than ever before.

How much longer will it be until the dream has been realized? There's no way to know as yet, but two things are quite clear: one, UC federation is looking increasingly like a short-term concept, and two, when it does arrive, it will likely come in on the strength of Microsoft.

Want to learn more about the latest in communications and technology? Then be sure to attend ITEXPO West 2012, taking place Oct. 2-5, in Austin, TX. ITEXPO (News - Alert) offers an educational program to help corporate decision makers select the right IP-based voice, video, fax and unified communications solutions to improve their operations. It's also where service providers learn how to profitably roll out the services their subscribers are clamoring for – and where resellers can learn about new growth opportunities. For more information on registering for ITEXPO click here.

Stay in touch with everything happening at ITEXPO. Follow us on Twitter.




Edited by Rachel Ramsey


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