IT Technology News and Progent IT Solutions

Microsoft unveiled the Release 2 version of Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007, Microsoft's solution for managing presence, instant messaging, teleconferencing, and Voice over IP. The next edition of Microsoft Communications Server includes improvements that offer IT organizations additional versatility for supporting their communications infrastructure effectively while providing an expandable platform for collaborative work processes.

To reduce costs, improve productivity, and promote teamwork, the latest version of Microsoft Communications Server 2007 permits phone audioconferencing to eliminate costly outside services with an in-house conferencing software bridge that is managed along with the current communications infrastructure. Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 Release 2 also now permits desktop sharing, which enables users to share their desktop transparently and launch audio communications and collaborate with others external to the organization on PC, Macintosh, or Linux platforms via a Web-based connection. The new release of Microsoft Communications Server also allows geographically scattered teams to work together by taking part in topic-based dialogues that extend indefinitely. This application provides users with a list of all available chat rooms and topics, automatically archives chats in an XML file format that meets auditing regulations, provides utilities to search the entire history of discussion on a given theme, and offers filters and alarms to inform people of recent posts.

The new version of Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 also incorporates enhanced support for voice communications and mobility. The new attendant console allows receptionists or group secretaries to manage calls and conferences for other users, set up workflows to route phone calls, and handle higher numbers of incoming calls through an intuitive software console. The Session Initiation Protocol trunking feature enables companies to reduce expenses by setting up a direct VoIP connection between an IP telephony service provider and Office Communications Server 2007 without requiring in-house gateways. In addition, Office Communicator Mobile functionality has been extended to more device platforms including the Motorola RAZR, RIM Blackberry, and Windows Mobile.

How Progent's Microsoft Gold certified Consultants Can Assist You to Deploy Microsoft Communications Server 2007
A Standard Edition Office Communications Server 2007 manages all required services on a single Front End Server. The minimal investment in computer hardware and ease of administration make this configuration is ideal for small and mid-sized companies and for branch offices. Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 relies on Windows Server and taps into powerful Windows Server technologies like as Active Directory, Microsoft SQL Server, System Center Operations Manager, and Microsoft Exchange Server. With Microsoft Communications Server 2007, you can incorporate real-time teamwork features and presence to popular Office programs such as Outlook, Microsoft Office Excel, and Microsoft Word. Presence awareness generated by the server can also be incorporated into productivity software. Microsoft Communications Server also acts as the presence mechanism for team sites and portals, providing presence and IM access from within Windows SharePoint Services sites.

Progent's Microsoft-certified engineers offer expert technical support for all these areas and can help you in planning and implementing a deployment of Microsoft Communications Server in order to optimize the productivity value of this communications solution. Progent can in addition assist you to migrate from Microsoft Live Communications Server to the Release 2 edition of Microsoft Communications Server.

Progent's consulting experts can help you to deploy Microsoft Communications Server and integrate a wide of Microsoft platforms to benefit from the presence, IM, and Voice over IP features enabled by Microsoft Office Communications Server:

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Expertise
Progent provides a range of Windows Server 2008 planning and maintenance services that can help small organizations to benefit from Microsoft Windows Server 2008. Progent's Microsoft Gold certified consultants can help your company to evaluate the ways Microsoft Windows Server 2008 could enhance the productivity of your IT system so that you can cost-justify a migration. Progent can show you how to test Microsoft Windows Server 2008 in order to assess its stability, responsiveness, and operability running realistic workloads. Progent can help with developing a deployment plan, evaluate and improve existing network infrastructure, document backup and restoration procedures, analyze security architecture and policies, assist in installing physical and virtualized servers, design high-availability strategies including failover server clustering, train your in-house IT management staff, and set up automated server and network monitoring processes to ensure your information system's security and efficiency.

Exchange Server Design, Installation, and Troubleshooting Support
Progent's expert consultants can help you design and deploy a smooth Exchange Server 2007 upgrade strategy that avoids productivity disruption, simplifies ongoing support requirements, and makes your Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 easy to administer. Progent's Microsoft Exchange 2007 support, troubleshooting, and consulting services include expertise with the integration of third-party add-ons to Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 and the creation of unified messaging implementations based on Microsoft Exchange 2007 Server. Progent's services feature integration with your business network, access to handheld computing products, continual monitoring of efficiency and security, spam and virus filtering, security update and service pack management, Helpdesk support, daily data backup, and comprehensive email administration services.

Microsoft SharePoint Server 2007 Help
Progent can offer assistance for planning, configuring, and maintaining successful Microsoft Office SharePoint Server solutions that will significantly enhance key aspects of your company's IT environment such as teamwork, web portal, enterprise search, forms-driven business operations, delivery of actionable intelligence, and content management. Progent's Microsoft Gold certified engineers can assist you to assess the business benefit for deploying Office SharePoint, deliver setup and integration support, help your business to configure SQL Server 2008 as a back-end database engine, optimize your network infrastructure, set up your standard and custom application programs to work with SharePoint Server 2007, create a comprehensive protection strategy that includes web portal technology, and deliver remote and on-premises repair and Help Desk support.

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Consulting Services
Progent's SQL Server engineers can make sure your organization installs SQL 2008 properly, and that your SQL-powered data management solution is incorporated effectively with your application software. Progent can provide 24x7 network tracking to make sure your corporate information system is working efficiently, and Progent's remote Help Desk is available to provide fast solutions for SQL database problems. Progent's certified network protection experts can evaluate your business-wide security policies and technologies and suggest enhancements for more complete regulatory compliance. Progent's application developers can assist you to develop or personalize line-of-business programs or web sites utilize databases controlled by Microsoft SQL Server.

Active Directory Support Services
Microsoft Windows Active Directory requires extensive practical experience to integrate efficiently across an enterprise. Progent's Microsoft certified Active Directory experts are experts in designing, deploying, and supporting complex Microsoft Enterprise Active Directory installations. Progent's fields of expertise with Microsoft Windows 2003 and 2008 AD include replication issues, multi-domain partition configurations, repair of corrupted AD objects, dealing with legacy legacy version configuration objects in online AD systems, and fixing unsuccessful configurations of Active Directory and Active Directory-associated programs.

Desktop Support Services
Progent's Microsoft Gold certified desktop support consultants can deliver a broad range of affordable services to assist your company to deploy, integrate, repair, and manage desktop PCs and laptops powered by Microsoft Windows. Progent can offer onsite or online help for individual desktop computers and handheld devices or work with your business to design and implement a network-wide rollout of the latest version of Microsoft Windows. Progent can also install Office or Microsoft Dynamics programs on your client PCs so they integrate productively with all Microsoft programs, products from third-party publishers, SQL databases, and key solutions throughout your network. Progent can also supply consultants and technicians to assist your company to prepare for and complete a company relocation or consolidation designed to produce the least possible interruption to your business.

Wireless Solutions Expertise
Progent's consultants offer experience in multiple technologies related to mobile connectivity such as network topology, Activesync, wireless security, wireless email, Windows Mobile, RIM Blackberry, and mobile application development. Progent's Microsoft and Cisco certified experts can save your organization work and money by using their wireless expertise to help you select and integrate mobile networking technologies that fit the needs of your business. Progent can also optimize your IT infrastructure so that mobile data devices perform more reliably.

Urgent Online Troubleshooting
Progent's Technical Response Center provides national remote help for Windows and Cisco-based small office IT networks. Progent's Microsoft and Cisco-Premier support professionals provide phone help and remote direct network connection to troubleshoot and resolve technical problems rapidly and economically. The scope of IT expertise represented by Progent's team of nationwide service professionals allows Progent to escalate even the toughest problems to qualified specialists as needed.

To learn additional information concerning Progent's consulting and support services for Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007, call 1-800-993-9400 or visit Contact Progent.