NET’s Experiences with Microsoft Communications Server “Trial Customer” Deployments
I had the opportunity to speak with newly promoted CTO of NET (Network Equipment Technologies) Kevin Isacks at the recently completed Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC), in Washington, D.C. We discussed a range of topics related to the upcoming launch of Microsoft’s Communications Server “14.” The launch is expected before year-end following public beta, release candidate and release to manufacturing, slotted to begin during September. NET participated in the WPC EXPO exhibiting its VX Intelligent Voice Switch with support for Microsoft Communications Server “14.” NET also demonstrated its SmartSIP solution, which provides SIP phone interoperability for Unified Communications (see UCStrategies article) as well as its completely new device – the UX Series Survivable Branch Appliance (SBA) for Microsoft Communications Server “14.”
Kevin’s recent promotion to the role of NET’s CTO provides a formal role to guide NET’s direction in the UC space and the other areas NET participates, to provide input and feedback into product direction and to be sure the products are aligned with the market.
Moving to Microsoft UC, NET sees CS “14” very positively. Kevin reiterated that NET has been working in the UC space with Microsoft, other Microsoft partners and several customers for quite a while, including several Alpha and Beta release users. Recently, NET has been active in several of the CS “14” customer early deployments, and this was the focus of our discussion. Kevin indicated that the early deployments have been viewed very positively by the customers. CS “14” delivers on the vision with a full set of enterprise communications features – “it is the only infrastructure you will need…With the Microsoft and NET solution, you now have the ability to run any size company on Communications Server.”
Kevin indicated that CS “14” product feedback from customers and partners has been excellent. NET brings two products to these deployments -- VX (gateway) and the entirely new, purpose built UX (SBA). Customer reaction has been that the UX is the best generation 1 product they have worked with, and they are impressed with the way Communications Server and the branch appliance worked and deliver on the support-free desires for branch offices.
The trial customers are a mix. Some are replacing existing PBXs (TDM and IP), given that CS “14” removes previous OCS R2 limitations. Others have enhanced and extended existing environments providing both the resiliency and survivability benefits as well as bandwidth management (Call Admission Control) to manage what is on the network and provide good audio quality. Some of the trial customers are carriers evaluating the solution as part of their cloud strategies, and their initial reaction is positive, although testing is not completed yet. In addition, from a SmartSIP perspective, re-using handsets has shown to be a desirable play, and cordless DECT devices can be accommodated via SmartSIP, (especially in the European Union).
NET believes that its success in this space is based on more than its products. Kevin noted that NET’s heritage is enabling complex customer networks to work together for 28 years – since before IP networks. NET allows many disparate devices to interconnect; the products are tightly integrated to CS “14” enabling customers to easily migrate into the Microsoft environment. From a Services perspective, NET brings broad knowledge of doing business with enterprise companies – large multi-nationals that expect quality support from their vendors. NET brings local technical resources, working with Microsoft and other partners and customers to ensure interoperability works at the first install. NET brings these skills in partnership with other Microsoft partners new to the voice space to ensure successful deployments in complex enterprise environments.
Overall, it looks as though Microsoft’s CS “14” is progressing well towards its launch and NET is well positioned as Microsoft CS “14” partner and solution developer to achieve significant success as the product is launched and rolled out. It will be interesting to see how CS “14” and its ecosystem matures and flourishes as Microsoft ventures more fully into the Enterprise Communications space.
While the early deployment experiences seem positive, we must remember that early test/trial customers are usually pre-disposed to the prospective solution and we would expect high praise. The formal launch and broader deployments over the next year will provide us greater insight into the overall assessment of Microsoft’s 3rd release of Communications Server and early insights as to how the UC market will respond to the launch.
From NET’s perspective, active participation with a major Microsoft launch makes good sense. Before we can assess NET’s success, we will need to see if CS “14” had broad market success and ecosystem partners’ solutions (from NET or other partners) are deployed. As has been said many times before, “may we live in interesting times.”
This paper is sponsored by NET.