Exchange Connections

2011 Orlando, FL

Other than the rain in Orlando (who could have expected that, not me) Orlando is very nice this time of year. I am enjoying the location/hotel happy that my presentation went well yesterday, but a bit under-whelmed at the information presented this year. So much has happened at such a fast pace in 2010 and the beginning of 2011 yet nothing 'new' is being discussed. The cloud story is not new - in fact the idea is not new. Migrations and methods - definitely useful for those that are still on older systems (and there are a lot), but again nothing new. Rehashing the new features that have already been discussed in the products is the most relevant I suppose, in case you have not heard...but really, what we what needs to be shared is how to use the technology in an efficient manner and make sure you are already for the technology tomorrow.

Granted, I do have a slighted view but I do think the UC technology (on premise) is where the futures and cost savings of tomorrow are to be found. Reducing Telco costs using ITSP SIP trunking, enabling a remote  workforce, reducing travel expenses, all while improving time-to-market and customer/client satisfaction is exactly what Microsoft Lync has to offer.

If you are in Orlando for Exchange Connections make sure to stop at the EXC22: Enabling PSTN Communication Using the Internet and a SIP Trunk Provider with Lync Server (Tuesday, 10:15am in Tuscany B) where I will briefly discuss how to implement a SIP trunk using IntelePeer as an example.

0 comments - Posted by Brian Ricks at 2:17 PM - Categories: IntelePeer | 2011

PHXUCUG - March 30, 2011

Phoenix Unified Communications User Group participants,

Our next meeting will be at 4pm on Weds. March 30th , at our NEW location in the NEW Microsoft Office.  Please register to attend at this link http://www.clicktoattend.com/?id=154455 so we know you’re coming.  The topic for this meeting will be “Threat Management Gateway”.   This month’s presentation will be given by Richard Hicks.  Just let me know if you have any questions.

What: Phoenix Unified Communications User Group
When:  4:00PM March 30th , 2011

Where:  Microsoft Corporation

                60 E. Rio Salado Pkwy

12^th Floor

Tempe, AZ 85282

Topic:  “Threat Management Gateway”

Note: PHXUCUG is now on LinkedIn.  Join and follow the group to receive notifications, participate in discussions, and keep up with other members of the group.  http://www.linkedin.com/groupRegistration?gid=3779775&csrfToken=ajax%3A3074912415404535725

Posted by Brian Ricks at 11:27 AM - Categories: PHXUCUG

Lync 2010 Tools Released

New Tools and Whitepapers for Lync Server 2010

As with any product, Lync Server is continually evolving and tools to help design, size, and test are constantly being released. Microsoft has recently released the following for Lync Server 2010:

• Planning for Metropolitan Site Resiliency
• Deploying in a multiple forest environment
• Online documentation for the Lync Server 2010 Stress and Performance Tool
• Lync Server 2010 Capacity Calculator
• Lync Server 2010 Stress and Performance Tool

Additionally, a new Lync Server virtualization whitepaper was released a few weeks ago updating Microsoft's support for virtualization throughout the product. It should be noted that the Capacity Calculator shows both physical and virtual requirements helping to bridge the gap between a SWAG and an educated guess.

0 comments - Posted by Brian Ricks at 3:45 AM - Categories: Tools | Documentation | Microsoft | 2010 | Lync Server

MVP Summit 2011

Microsoft MVP Summit 2011, Redmond, WA

Another year as a Microsoft MVP and another year of insider NDA Microsoft information. Like every year information from Microsoft is given and it is bound by an NDA leaving no details to share. :)

As I sit in Sea-Tac airport with my wife, waiting to return home, I find myself without words to write. However, I can say that Microsoft has a vision, is working towards it, and exciting and new UC advances are coming our way. As I know more and can share it, I plan to post it here so stay tuned.

Posted by Brian Ricks at 5:56 PM - Categories: Microsoft | 2010 | Lync Server | MVP | 2011

New Look, new Link

BriComp Publishes Public Website

I can finally join the twenty-first century a BriComp Computers, LLC has finally paid for and provisioned a website which can be located at http://www.bricomp.com. The website was create by my younger brother (yes keeping it in the family) and he did a fantastic job. The backend, while created with Adobe Cold Fusion and Sun Java technologies, works well and is run on a Windows 2008 R2 Server (IIS 7.5) and uses a SQL 2008 Server backend. As part of the project I have ported my blog to the same server and it now runs under the same Cold Fusion umbrella - time from install to live (with content)...about 2 hours.

Hopefully comments, postings, etc will work much better with this new system, feel free to let me know what you think - comments are always appreciated.

1 comments - Posted by Brian Ricks at 12:00 AM - Categories: BriComp