Microsoft OCS is now... Microsoft Lync
Category OCS Lync
Not a total surprise this one, as the rumour had been going around for a few weeks, and then it appeared on a few websites last week. So now the news is official, Microsoft OCS 14 is now Microsoft Lync. you can read more at the OCS Team Blog oh wait, is that now Lync Team Blog?
An interesting comment on the blog was
Imagine if IBM had talked to customers before they went through all that hassle a few years ago when they renamed Sametime (and then after talking to customers renamed it back).
Lync is alot like Sametime Connect with SUT, but with fewer IBM Consultants and no specific IBM hardware requirements. The client in OCS 14 has many features that we take for granted in Sametime such as different style text, picture/profiles but are new and exciting to existing OCS customers. IBM used to claim they had a 5 year technological lead over Microsoft, and to be honest they did, sadly that lead was burnt away when IBM messed around with the Workplace experiment, most IBMers who worked on Sametime knew this was happening, and most partners told IBM this was happening, but the Workplace wagon couldn't be stopped, and I suppose you could now argue that Sametime 8.5 is really just a maturing of that effort. But now Microsoft is about even with IBM, they have some features that are better than IBM, and IBM has some features that are better than Microsoft. Looking back I'm sure if IBM had paid attention to customers instead of internal product platform choices then I think IBM could have maintained a much stronger lead. As it is though, if you're in a bid against Microsoft don't be too quick to dismiss them, they have a pretty powerful offering and you should take the threat very seriously.
So go out and buy your Lync related URLs now before they're all gone. I prepared early and got mine when I heard the rumour a few weeks ago.
Not a total surprise this one, as the rumour had been going around for a few weeks, and then it appeared on a few websites last week. So now the news is official, Microsoft OCS 14 is now Microsoft Lync. you can read more at the OCS Team Blog oh wait, is that now Lync Team Blog?
Lync – a combination of “link” and “sync” – is about connecting people in new ways, anytime, anywhere
An interesting comment on the blog was
Beyond simplifying and shortening the current branding, customer research found that the name Lync appeals to end users and IT pros, even more than descriptive options like Communicator.
Imagine if IBM had talked to customers before they went through all that hassle a few years ago when they renamed Sametime (and then after talking to customers renamed it back).
Lync is alot like Sametime Connect with SUT, but with fewer IBM Consultants and no specific IBM hardware requirements. The client in OCS 14 has many features that we take for granted in Sametime such as different style text, picture/profiles but are new and exciting to existing OCS customers. IBM used to claim they had a 5 year technological lead over Microsoft, and to be honest they did, sadly that lead was burnt away when IBM messed around with the Workplace experiment, most IBMers who worked on Sametime knew this was happening, and most partners told IBM this was happening, but the Workplace wagon couldn't be stopped, and I suppose you could now argue that Sametime 8.5 is really just a maturing of that effort. But now Microsoft is about even with IBM, they have some features that are better than IBM, and IBM has some features that are better than Microsoft. Looking back I'm sure if IBM had paid attention to customers instead of internal product platform choices then I think IBM could have maintained a much stronger lead. As it is though, if you're in a bid against Microsoft don't be too quick to dismiss them, they have a pretty powerful offering and you should take the threat very seriously.
So go out and buy your Lync related URLs now before they're all gone. I prepared early and got mine when I heard the rumour a few weeks ago.
| Permalink | 
Comments
Posted by Martijn de Jong At 10:15:13 AM On 09/14/2010 | - Website - |
Posted by Carl Tyler At 10:39:59 AM On 09/14/2010 | - Website - |
Posted by Eric! At 03:32:48 AM On 09/16/2010 | - Website - |