Unified Communications Devices .... coming to PC near you!
Article
A while ago at Voicecon we announced not only the public beta availability of Office Communications Server 2007 but also some key steps in how we are going to make a major change in how people use telecoms in the future. One important step is the introduction of desktop integrate devices, today we are announcing more details around those devices and finally rescuing the office phone that has been marooned on an island up until now.
Here is a summary
15 phones/devices are on the path to qualification.
Partnerships with 9 companies -- GN, LG-Nortel, Plantronics, Polycom, Samsung, Tatung, and newly announced partners Asus, NEC and Vitelix – are building phones and devices optimised for Microsoft’s unified communications portfolio.
Today, customers can order partner-built Microsoft Unified Communications phones and devices to test alongside the beta version of Office Communications Server 2007 and Office Communicator 2007.
The important thing to understand here is that we are not restricting the end customer to a certain type of device with which they communicate or who they buy that device from, applying this software approach and ecomincs to a hardware world we believe will resuult in over 100 million people being able to call someone directly from Office and their desktop!.
I have tried to batch them into groups for you but its kind of hard to do that as we are not conforming to the standard type of devices users have had to use until now. We are not playing catchup here, we are taking the technology and customer experience in a whole new direction.
Equipment that requires a PC
LG-Nortel UCT-100HS - This a bluetooth headset and allows you to make phone calls via your PC and Communicator 2007. This can pair with both your PC and other bluetooth devices so you can use it even when you are not near your PC. You can also choose to seemlessly switch calls from the PC to your headset without a break in conversation.
Asus W7J - Laptop with built-in camera and speakerphone. This is a laptop with all of the important pieces included for Office Communicator 2007, i.e. a built in camera, microsoft and speakerphone. Not need to attach additional devices, its all here 'in the box'.GN/Jabra GN2000USB OC - This is a Wired USB headset with on/off hook and volume control. I have been using one of these for quite some time now as my mobile Office Communicator headset, its small enough for me to pop in my laptop bag and take with me to customer site or use at home. This headset allows you to make calls via your PC and Commuicator 2007.
Polycom CX100 Communicator - This is a Wired USB speakerphone that allows you to make phone calls via your PC and Communicator 2007. If you have your own private area to take calls or want to setup and adhoc meeting at your desk then this speakphone is ideal for such an occasion.
Polycom CX200 - Wired USB handset with speakerphone that allows you to make phone calls via your PC and Communicator 2007 (aka Catalina). I have had one of these on my desk for quite some time and has a few lovely touches including a flashing light for Exchange UM voicemails, the fact it automatically opens up Communicator when you lift the reciever, ability to attach a standard external headset and the fact it looks and feels like a standard phone.
Vitelix Type A (VX 100) - Wired USB handset with speakerphone that allows you to make phone calls via your PC and Communicator 2007.
Samsung UC Monitor - This is a monitor with built in camera, microphone and speakerphone along you to make phone call via your PC and Communuicator 2007. Anyone sitting at a desk with one of these monitors is then able to make and recieve phone calls and video calls without having to connect a seperate device.
LG-Nortel UCT-100DSK - Simiar to the Polycomm CX200, this is a wired USB speakerphone that allows you to make phone calls via your PC and Communicator 2007.
Polycom CX400 - This is Wireless USB handset without dial pad that allows you to make phone calls via your PC and Communicator 2007 but with the freedom of being wireless up to 30 feet. This device is suite for people who dont mind having their PC on to initiate the call but want to get up and walk about once the call has started.
GN/Jabra GN9330DECT - This is a wireless DECT headset that allows you to make phone calls via your PC and Communicator 2007. This headset works up to 200 feet which is absolutly amazing and will certainly have pride of place on my desk if I manage to get one ... you reading this Jabra ;-) ?
NEC UC USB Phone - This is a wired USB handset that allows you to make phone calls via your PC and Communicator 2007.
Plantronics 510 Voyager- Dont have much information on this at the minute except that its a bluetooth headset.
Equipment that doesnt require a PC
LG-Nortel UCT-1000 -This is Office Communicator 2007 and an IP phone all in one. This device doesnt require a PC to make a phone call but still has all of the key capabilities of Office Communicator 2007 inside, including presence, your groups, your buddy list and access to Exchange UM voicemail. I have also had a play with one of these over the last month or so and took it home to see what would happens when I plugged it into my home network. Simple answer is it 'just works'. It logged into OCS and displayed my buddy list and I able to make outgoing and recieve incoming calls.
Polycom CX700 - This is Office Communicator 2007 and an IP phone all in one. This device doesnt require a PC to make a phone call but still has all of the key capabilities of Office Communicator 2007 inside, including presence, your groups, your buddy list and access to Exchange UM voicemail. I have also had a play with one of these over the last month or so and took it home to see what would happens when I plugged it into my home network. Simple answer is it 'just works'. It logged into OCS and displayed my buddy list and I able to make outgoing and recieve incoming calls.
Equipment that's a bit of both
Vitelix Type B/C (VX 200 and VX 200 Duo) - This is a Wired USB dial-pad handset with speakerphone. Similar to the other Vitalix phone but these also include a dial pad, with the Duo model also supporting a connection to a standard PSTN phone line. This allows you to make VOIP and 'normal' phone calls from the same device.
GN/Jabra GN9350DECT - Similar to the GN9330DECT, this is a wireless DECT headset that allows you to make phone calls via your PC and Communicator 2007. This headset works up to 300 feet but also plugs into a standard telephony to allow you to recieve and make calls via Communicator 2007 or your legacy telephone.
Comments
Anonymous
January 01, 2003
You might be asking yourself right now,  why on earth is Mark talking about a monitor when he should
Anonymous
January 01, 2003
A whole bunch of UC devices has been unveiled today - check out Mark's blog to see the devices. There
Anonymous
January 01, 2003
If you are a regular OfficeRocker reader you might think I've developed a bit of an obsession with
Anonymous
January 01, 2003
Hi,
First of all, I added in a picture of the Samsung monitor to the post above, take a look athttps://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/uc/gallery.mspx for the image downloads.
To reply to Ians comments, its worth noting that these devices connect to our system than can then connect to the existing PBX. I believe there is more money to be made by partners selling solutions based on UC than just expensive endpoints.
Mark Deakin
Anonymous
January 01, 2003
Back in May 2007,  I did a blog post about all the new devices that were coming out.  That
Anonymous
January 01, 2003
I've had an outlook rule in place for a while to tell people about broken phone numbers, I thought I'd
Anonymous
January 01, 2003
Being the UC product manager I am lucky enough to be firnished with a few more devices than others in
Anonymous
January 01, 2003
The features depend on the type of phone the organisation goes for.
For the fully featured 'tanjay' phones, features will include
a) see presence of people on your buddy list before you phone them
b) view contacts 'out of office' or 'notes'
c) view voicemails and listen to them in any order
d) Plug the phone into any network port with an internet connection and it 'just works'
Expect to hear more about these devices towards the end of the year as they become available to purchase.
Mark Deakin
Anonymous
May 14, 2007
Hi Mark, interesting stuff. By becoming 'agnostic' on the type of IP phone you will be putting pressure on traditional PBX vendors who make a tidy sum on their own IP endpoints. They don't like non own brand phones on their systems and kick up a fuss about service continuity.
Anonymous
May 14, 2007
Interesting phones- looks like its going to really create a wow in the market place! What sort of traditional features do they support and how do you ensure quality of service on an IP network?
Anonymous
December 02, 2007
Our product called ZoomSwitch ZMS10 allows you to add USB voice functionality to your existing wired or wireless office headset. You can switch back and forth between the phone and PC on the fly with a simple button. This was created for users of unified messaging where they might have a desk phone and a softphone, or who listen to their voicemail via their computer.
There is more info on our product at ZoomSwitch.com.
Thanks.