BWI: Microsoft Launches Lync, Ushers in a new era of Business Communications

Press release from Business Wire India
Source: Microsoft Corporation India Private Ltd
Tuesday, November 23, 2010 03:19 PM IST (09:49 AM GMT)
Editors: General; Business: Business services, Information technology, Telecommunications; Technology
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Microsoft Launches Lync, Ushers in a new era of Business Communications
With Lync, users can connect virtually anytime and anywhere, across the PC, browser and mobile, According to Forrester, customers deploying Lync can expect up to 337% ROI in 12 months after deployment

Gurgaon, Haryana, India, Tuesday, November 23, 2010 -- (Business Wire India) -- 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 http://www.lync.com, and business customers can purchase Lync beginning Dec. 1, 2010. Lync is a single platform that integrates instant messaging, presence, audio, video and webconferencing and voice to bring people together in the ways they communicate best under a single interface. "Lync delivers on our vision to unify all of the modes of modern business communication, giving people a more collaborative, 'in person,' experience with features like HD video, conference recording, and social features like status updates and activity feeds," said Mr. Sanjay Manchanda, Director - Microsoft Business Division, Microsoft India. Infact, according to a recent study by Forrester, Lync will offer a ROI of 337 %, including $6.35 million in hard cost savings over three years, with a payback period of 12 months on the Total Economic Impact study that found that for a composite organization.

Microsoft Lync Top Features:

-- High Definition video including Audio/Video federation with Windows Live and Kinect
-- Unparalleled out-of-the-box integration with SharePoint, Exchange and Office
-- A complete Enterprise Telephony solution that allows businesses to augment or replace traditional PBX systems
-- A single platform that integrates the various modes of communication necessary for people and businesses to be productive
-- An extensible and open platform that enables developers, partners and customers to develop customizable solutions

Some of the early adopters of Lync 2010 in India and globally are already changing the way they communicate, and transforming their businesses while saving money. "Aspect has always offered state of art technologies to bolster its employee productivity. We are delighted with the next generation and universal communication capabilities of Lync that are very useful for our employees to collaborate effectively," said Rajeev Soni, General Manager South Asia and Middle East, Aspect Software - one of the early adopters of Lync in India. "Lync allows our employees to fire up any communication tool they find convenient or are more familiar with - from video, phone to instant messaging - freeing them from all technical limitations and allowing them to communicate like never before. Moreover, this rollout is expected to have a profound impact on our ability to service our customers".

Today, globally, more than 70 new devices and 34 new applications are being announced by partners and 100's of partners are getting ready and building their practice on Lync. Commenting on the India launch, Mr. Devendra Taneja, Managing Director PC Solutions Pvt. Ltd (India) said, "Indian market is witnessing an increased demand for unified communication solutions, driven by its proven impact on business bottom lines. Technologies like e-mail, instant messaging or video conferencing based on Microsoft unified communications platform will enable customers to reduce travel, communications costs and improve business efficiencies significantly within their organizations which will effectively translate into higher ROI from their technology investments".

Microsoft Lync Online will be available as part of Office 365, with voice capabilities available in 2011. Lync Online will include instant messaging, presence, audio and video conferencing, and PC-to-PC voice calls.

About Microsoft Lync:

Microsoft Lync is the new family brand for the products formerly known as Microsoft Communications Server, Microsoft Communications Online and Microsoft Communicator, and now also includes Microsoft Lync Web App, and Microsoft Lync Online. Learn more about Lync at www.microsoft.com/lync.

About Microsoft India

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software - any time, any place and on any device. Microsoft Corporation (India) Private Ltd is a subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation, USA. It has had a presence in India since 1990 and currently has offices in 13 cities - Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune.

For more information on Microsoft India:

Log onto: http://www.microsoft.com/india/msindia/ Or Follow us on: http://twitter.com/MicrosoftIndia


CONTACT DETAILS
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Nipunta Khashu, Text 100 Pvt. Ltd., +91 9811465973, NipuntaK@text100.co.in
Tushar Makkar, Microsoft Corporation India Pvt. Ltd.

KEYWORDS
GENERAL, BUSINESS SERVICES, IT, TELECOMMUNICATIONS, TECHNOLOGY

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