Filling Lync’s Gaps

As awareness of Microsoft Lync continues to grow, so does its cloud of confusion. Lync solves the challenges of communications with some fairly unique approaches. The challenge lies within Microsoft’s commitment to a software driven approach – effectively the only major UC solution that is completely hands-off with hardware. That’s not really new for Microsoft – for decades the firm has created its software that was effectively useless without third-party hardware. It’s a well understood and proven model – servers, CALs, and client applications. However, Lync requires specific components best addressed by hardware.

Just like Exchange and other enterprise applications, there are server components and desktop clients, but with Lync there is a need for middle parts. Critical parts that complete the Lync puzzle. Microsoft itself is agnostic about how these parts get addressed, and several options exist. But, few vendors have taken as comprehensive approach as AudioCodes.

AudioCodes is primarily associated with its gateways – sort of. The company was an early pioneer in VoIP with gateways sold under the brands of major telecom players such as Avaya, Alcatel-Lucent, and Nortel. In 2009, the company began selling products under its own brand through its own global distribution network. Today, AudioCodes is the largest standalone media gateway vendor.

VoIP gateways provide enhanced services for multiple platforms, not just Lync. The typical functions that AudioCodes and other gateway vendors offer include:

• Router: SIP trunks get delivered to the telecommunications infrastructure via Ethernet, which requires routing functions often separate from data/Internet services.
  
  
• Firewall: Connections to the public Internet always need to be secured.
  
  
• Session Border Controller: Firewalls were not designed for real time SIP traffic, and an SBC provides security for SIP traffic in real time.
  
  
• Analog and Digital conversions: Connecting analog, digital, or PRI (ISDN) connections into a newer VoIP platform can be tricky. Gateways can simply convert those transports into SIP. Oddly, due to SIP incompatibilities, sometimes gateways are used to convert from SIP to SIP.

I don’t intend to belittle those services as they are important, yet they aren’t particularly complex. But that isn’t where AudioCodes stops with regards to Microsoft Lync deployments.

• Survivable Branch-Office Appliance (SBA): SBA functionality allows an AudioCodes gateway to continue to provide Lync services to local users even if the WAN fails (see Lync 2010 and the SBA).
  
  
• MS Certified: AudioCodes works closely with Microsoft to ensure the Lync experience is as seamless for administrators as it is for end users. This includes adherence to Microsoft guidelines including certification by Microsoft. It means that AudioCodes also offers technical support relating to Lync specific implementation issues.
  
  
• SIP Phone Support (SPS): This feature overcomes the biggest objection around existing IP investments - phone reuse. SPS uses standard Microsoft APIs and features scalable and redundant solutions that feature enhanced presence. SPS allows organizations to deploy SIP endpoints on Lync.

AudioCodes offers three additional capabilities that further demonstrates its commitment and alignment with Microsoft, they are:

• Mobility Plus: Brings Lync UC to mobile users. Audio codes connects Lync servers to mobile devices via SIP to enable mobile to mobile/Phone/PC client VoIP calls with extended features. The AudioCodes solution ensures secured VoIP connectivity and provides roaming subscribers access to services. The solution is based on a certified Microsoft protocol interface. The client supports HD VoIP with RT-audio, Lync’s rich calling features, contact list with enhanced features, a Lync dialpad, and also offers cellular/wi-fi handover (VSS). Mobile users benefit from a single number and single mailbox while away from their desk.
  
  
• ELIN 911: Most 911 services utilize ANI or Automatic Number Identification. These numbers are matched against a PSAP database to determine addresses. To fund these public databases, both counties and states charge taxes which add up for larger organizations. ANI services can be replaced with an Emergency Location Identification Number (ELIN). The ELIN approach results with a major reduction in E911 surcharges. Lync already supports ELIN data in its SIP invites, AudioCodes can transparently replace ANI information with ELIN on 911 calls, thus reducing fees. AudioCodes also remembers this translation, so if 911 calls back the call gets routed to the right station. AudioCodes is the only Enhanced Gateway Provider that is certified as an ELIN gateway too.
  
  
• SmartTAP Recording: AudioCodes deploys a software plug-in on the Front End Server as a trusted certified application. The SmartTAP server can then receive signaling information over a secure connection and decrypts the SRTP traffic for silent recording of internal or external calls. No additional conferencing services or resources are needed. Also, the solution supports wideband RT-audio communications.

None of these features are exclusive to AudioCodes. However, it’s interesting to see how the company is differentiating its products via a comprehensive approach to Lync. The company also offers professional services around Lync design and deployment. There is no doubt that other vendors will argue a best-of-breed approach with specific optimized solutions. However, AudioCodes (and its dealers) are nicely positioned around Lync and allow end-customers to consolidate their equipment and training investments into one versatile solution.