Lync 2010 SPLA Licencing

Lync can be licenced on a SPLA basis from a Service provider, as an alternative to the normal CAL model.

The Lync SPLA is licenced on a per month/per user basis. The are 4 SAL types, Standard, Plus, Enterprise and Enterprise Plus (similar to the CALs - Enterprise Plus is equivalent to Enterprise and Plus together). Unlike the CAL model where CALs are additive to give the user extra functionality, only one SAL is required per user.

Update: Basic IM/Presence is enabled by the Standard SAL. The Enterprise SAL gives the basic functionality of the Standard SAL plus the features of the Enterprise CAL. The Plus SAL gives the basic functionality of the Standard SAL and also the features of the Plus CAL, but it does not include the features of the Enterprise CAL. For complete Lync functionality, the user requires the Enterprise Plus SAL.

Lync Server is additional software, so the Service Provider doesn't have to pay or charge for it. The SQL and the Windows OS are chargeable.

Under a SPLA the service provider would normally deploy the solution in their hosting Data Centre, however it can be deployed at the customer premises, so long as the hardware is owned by the Service Provider.

Gartner: Critical Capabilities for Unified Communications

Gartner: Critical Capabilities for Unified Communications

"This research outlines and evaluates the leading UC product portfolios on the market, focusing on three use cases: telephony, collaboration and small or midsize businesses. While all vendor products were good, two received an overall rating of Excellent due to portfolio breadth and market strength."

Microsoft and Cisco were rated excellent, with Microsoft coming out ahead.

MCITP: Lync Server Administrator

The requirements for the MCITP in Lync Server are to pass the 70-664 (configuring) and 70-665 (Administrator) exams.

The 70-664 exam is currently in development and due for release March 15, 2011.
The 70-665 exam is currently in development and due for release March 29, 2011.
 There is no official preparation material, there are some notes available over at geekswithblogs, for details refer to my previous post.

Lync Server Technical Specialist Exam

Microsoft Lync Server 2010, Configuring exam is 70-664. 

There is no official preparation material available but Enrique Lima over at Geekswithblogs has pulled together an unofficial prep guide based on the exam objectives. I'll be attempting the exam in the next couple of weeks, once I get Designing and Deploying Messaging Solutions with Exchange out of the way. I'll update the post once I get into the study and attempt the exam. 

Lync Phone Edition updates released

An update is available from Microsoft for the Aastra  and Polycom range of Lync Handsets

Dect compatible handset available for Lync

Snom have a Dect handset compatible with Lync available. The M9 series supports up to 9 handset per base station. A configuration guide is available from Snom. I hope to soon get my hands on a sample unit to try it out.

Jan 2011 Updates for Lync Server, Lync Client, Lync Attendee and Lync Group Chat

Micrsoft have released a series of updates for Lync

Updates for Lync Server 2010

• Update for Administrative Tools 2467771
• Update for Core Components 2467775 
• Update for Conferencing Server 2467776
• Update for Web Components Server 2449497  

The updates can be download from here

Update for Lync Client, the update is available for 32bit and 64bit

Update for Lync Attendee, the update is available for Admin level install or User level install

Update for Group Chat Administration and Client, the Administration update is available here and the client update here