snom Expands Lync Endpoint Options

Given the large call volume for businesses in the present day, a reliable and cost effective phone system that suits the company's business model is a must. The use of VoIP services by chief companies around the world has opened opportunities for more productive and economical ways to conduct meetings and conversations without losing the high-quality means of communications.

Based on open standards for enterprise communications, snom technology AG creates and manufacturers VoIP telephones and produces business-specific VoIP communication systems based on the open standard SIP. To date, snom has produced six unified communications (UC) edition IP phones which have been marked as "Qualified for Microsoft Lync." By offering this, snom can now provide businesses with the biggest and most holistic portfolio of standards-based IP desktop phones with complete features. These phones are also interoperable and compatible with Microsoft Lync Server 2010.

By utilizing the snom UC edition portfolio, businesses that deploy Microsoft's enterprise UC solution are able to choose from a wide variety of phones in order to meet their specific needs. These needs can range from entry-level Lync endpoints in a company's lobby to advanced executive suites business phones.

In a recent statement, snom technology AG's COO, Michael Knieling, said that "the qualification of these six snom UC edition desktop phones with Microsoft Lync gives organizations versatility and flexibility in selecting and installing endpoints that closely align with business processes. The phones are sophisticated, yet affordable, and support a rich set of advanced Lync features." "snom's partners," he continues, "can now offer their business customers the widest selection of full-featured, standards-based IP phones."

Microsoft Compatible Devices Program exists to test and qualify devices to be compatible with Microsoft Lync 2010. From there, they are able to offer customers a diverse range of choices for phones, conference room systems, headsets, and other devices to enhance business communication. Lync-enabled IP desk phones, powered through Lync Phone Edition, have full support to PBX functionalities, rich conferencing, integrated security and manageability, and are able to access calendar and contacts. In addition, they have certain extension functionalities when connected to a PC. Certain snom phone models also support IP PBX capabilities, which include music on hold, boss/admin, call parking, and integrated presence functionality.

According to Giovanni Mezgec, general manager of Microsoft Lync, "snom continues to set the standard for SIP phone innovation with Microsoft Lync" and "the combination of snom's new Lync firmware and expanded portfolio raises the bar by delivering enhanced IP PBX functionality and server management capabilities to Lync customers. These phones will offer Microsoft partners and resellers more options to address customer needs and add tremendous value to the Lync ecosystem."

The new snom 7xx series phones are also included in the UC edition, which offer three different models of cost-effective and full-featured business VoIP phones. All of the models offer a sleek, ergonomic design with support for high-definition voice, an intuitive user interface with integrated Lync features, and function keys that can be programmed to the user's preference. (RP) Link