James's space

This time, the keynote:

 

http://www.voicecon.eu/videos/playvideo/index.php?vid=VCA-2008-1224061737

 

Wish you were here!

Jamie

There are a series of videos about Office Communications Server 2007 R2 being posted to the web on http://edge.technet.com.

 

The first of the series happens to be me demonstrating the Attendant, but conferencing is getting added later this week with several more covering Group Chat, CWA, Administration, Management, Mobility and Devices.

 

As for Amsterdam, the conference is winding down.  We pack out the booth tonight.  Half of us go on to TechED EMEA in Barcelona, the other half go down to VoiceCON in San Francisco.

 

You'll be able to see us - and check out our new product!

Jamie

The keynote setup, what was on the stage:

 

 

Both laptops were Lenovo Thinkpad T61 models.  On the left was running Communicator 2007 R2 Beta and was used for the click-to-call, Desktop Sharing and for dialing into the conference bridge.  Then an HD scan converter (no, not mine...) and a Tanjay.  The Tanjay is powered by a borrowed PoE switch that's buried under a pile of cables that's actually inside the little pod.  On the right, the laptop ran Attendant and Firefox (gasp!) for showing Communicator Web Access.  The white phone was connected to an AudioCodes MP-114 which let me configure an FXS port to show a dial-out to a vanilla PSTN number.

 

For today, press is coming soon.  I think I may miss the final keynote session: Johan Krebbers from Royal Dutch Shell - it's too bad, he's got some great things to say about his use of OCS. 

 

The booth equipment is now happier than it was earlier.  We trucked the keynote server down to the booth, and now that's running it.  Much better, as things actally work as they're supposed to.  Beta software, running virtualized, configured fast - and we expect stability.  Beta is pretty good, but there certainly issues.  I heard last night at dinner that one thing I did during the keynote live without a net had a bug that meant roughly 1/4 of the time it would not work - and after hitting that bug it's all downhill.  Something that I had done a dozen times and never had an issue.  I'm glad I didn't know before the demo....

 

 

 

There is lots of press going around the R2 launch - check out Alan Sulkin's take from NoJitter here: http://www.nojitter.com/blog/archives/2008/10/microsoft_ocs_2.html -  and then our own press at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2008/oct08/10-14OCSR2PR.mspx

 

The keynote went off without any serious visible hitches (heh). Here's the new stuff we demoed:

 - Desktop Sharing: built right into the Communicator client, being able to share and control someone's desktop

 - Dial-in Conferencing: A PSTN conferencing bridge for scheduled and ad-hoc/reservationless conferencing

 - Join conference from web: Communicator Web Access can now let users join conference calls - even anonymous users.

 - Office Communications Server 2007 Attendant: A new client for high volume telephony users like admins & front desk receptionists.

 - Delegation: Call Routing where another user answers your calls, and allows for calling on behalf of the delegator.

 

We talked about, but didn't demo:

 - High Definition video support in Office Communicator

 - Communicator mobile for Java phones (Nokia S40 and S60 post RTM)

 

What we _didn't_ talk about, in no particular order.

 - Response Groups: Call Treatment, Queuing & Routing for hunt groups - server side routing for teams, including transfer of treatment info to the agent.

 - Click to call between Communicator and Communicator Phone Edition (the Tanjay style phone)

 - Expanded presence - now showing unique entries when someone is logged in on the IP phone or Mobile clients exclusively.

 - Single Number Reach - A FMC solution with Communicator Mobile that allows mobile calling to be driven by OCS.

 - Team Calling: Team-based simultaneous ringing that's configured by users.

 - Resiliency: If the client in a call loses connection to OCS, the call continues.

 - Auto-updates: Administrators can directly push out updates for new versions of Communicator.

 - Voice Memos: Sending the call directly to Exchange Unified Messaging.

 - Group Chat: Persistent topic-based chat rooms.

 - Music on hold for Attendant and Response Groups

 

That's the high level - it's time to go for dinner.

GO R2!!!!!

 

Who knows when I'll get a new update.

 

. 

 

The still morning day gets busier:

8am - At the booth, check on Exchange, CWA and Mediation Server.

Speaking of Mediation Server, need RJ-48 cables & to configure for the Gateway.

Make sure the clients are happy and can do calls, conferences, etc.

Configure the new stuff on R2.

Clean up the booth

 

10am - Booth meeting.

Demo all the new stuff for everyone who's working the booth.  For some, this will be their first hands-on with the new stuff.

 

11am - Triple-check the keynote server is happy.

11:30 - Keynote walkthrough.  One last time.

12:45 - Doors open for the keynote.

13:00 - Keynotes begin.

 

14:45 - Eric Swift, Senior Director of Product Management and our fearless leader, takes the stage.

By this time, you'll probably be able to find the press release on http://microsoft.com/presspass

 

15:30 - Keynote concludes and booth opens. 

 

After that, UC gets a whole lot more interesting.