IT Technology News and Progent Solutions

Microsoft introduced the most recent version of Microsoft Office Communications Server, Microsoft's solution for streamlining presence awareness, IM infrastructure, video conferencing, and IP-based calling. The R2 edition of Microsoft Communications Server 2007 features enhancements that offer network administrators more control for maintaining their communications system effectively while providing an expandable platform for collaborative business activity.

To lower expenses, increase productivity, and enhance collaboration, the new Release 2 of Office Communications Server 2007 permits dial-in conferencing to replace expensive outside services with an in-house audioconferencing software bridge that is administered as part of the overall communications infrastructure. Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 Release 2 also now features desktop sharing, which enables users to share their PC transparently and launch calls and collaborate with others external to the company on Windows PC, Macintosh, or Linux platforms through a web connection. The new release of Microsoft Office Communications Server also allows geographically scattered groups to collaborate by taking part in theme-based discussions that extend over time. This application provides users with a list of all active chat sessions and themes, automatically archives discussions in a file format that addresses compliance regulations, delivers utilities to search the entire history of chat on a given theme, and offers triggers and alerts to notify people of recent posts.

the latest edition of Microsoft Office Communications Server also incorporates enhanced support for voice and mobility. The new attendant console permits receptionists or team administrators to manage phone calls and conferences on behalf of associates, establish workflows to direct calls, and handle higher numbers of incoming communications via a software-based console. The Session Initiation Protocol trunking capability allows businesses to cut costs by setting up a direct VoIP interface between an IP telephony service supplier and Microsoft Communications Server 2007 without requiring in-house gateways. Also, Office Communicator Mobile support has been extended to more device platforms including the Nokia S40, Blackberry, and Windows Mobile.

How Progent's Microsoft-certified Consultants Can Help Your Company to Benefit from Office Communications Server
A Standard Edition Office Communications Server 2007 manages all required services on a single Front End Server. The small investment in hardware and ease of administration make this version is optimal for small and medium-sized organization and for branch offices. Microsoft Communications Server is based on Microsoft Windows Server and takes advantage of core Windows platforms such as Active Directory, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft System Center Operations Manager, and Microsoft Exchange Server. With Office Communications Server 2007, you can incorporate real-time teamwork features and presence to popular Office programs like as Outlook, Microsoft Office Excel, and Word. Presence awareness generated by the server can also be incorporated into line-of-business software. Microsoft Communications Server 2007 also serves as the presence engine for team sites and web portals, providing presence awareness and IM support from within SharePoint sites.

Progent's Microsoft-Gold certified professionals can provide expert technical services for all these technologies and can assist you in designing and executing a rollout of Microsoft Communications Server 2007 so as to maximize the productivity impact of this communications solution. Progent can also assist you to upgrade from Microsoft Live Communications Server 2005 to the current edition of Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007.

Progent's IT professionals can help your company to install Microsoft Office Communications Server and configure a wide of Microsoft platforms to benefit from the presence awareness, Instant Messaging, and Voice over IP capabilities enabled by Microsoft Communications Server 2007:

Windows Server 2008 Integration
Progent provides a variety of Microsoft Windows Server 2008 planning and integration services that can help small organizations to take advantage of Windows Server 2008. Progent's Microsoft Gold certified consultants can assist your company to evaluate the ways Windows Server 2008 could enhance the business value of your IT system so that you can cost-justify an upgrade. Progent can help you test Microsoft Windows Server 2008 in order to assess its reliability, performance, and compatibility running realistic workloads. Progent can assist with developing a deployment strategy, evaluate and improve your current network environment, develop backup and restoration processes, evaluate security architecture and guidelines, assist in setting up actual and virtualized machines, develop fault-tolerant strategies such as server and storage clustering, train your internal IT administration staff, and deploy automated 24x7 monitoring processes to ensure system protection and performance.

Microsoft Exchange Server Design, Configuration, Maintenance, and Hosting Support
Progent's expert consultants can help you design and deploy an efficient Exchange Server 2007 migration strategy that avoids network disruption, simplifies ongoing support requirements, and makes your Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 easy to administer. Progent's Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 help, repair, and consulting services include expertise with the configuration of third-party enhancements of Exchange Server 2007 and the design of unified messaging implementations powered by Microsoft Exchange Server 2007. Progent's Microsoft Exchange Hosting Services offer an enterprise-class data center that features redundant power and environmental control systems, round-the-clock site security and IT support center, plus fault-tolerant connections to tier-1 Internet service providers. Hosted Exchange servers are set up as virtual servers for high uptime, easy expandability, and fast recovery. Progent's services feature complete incorporation with your network, connectivity with handheld computing products, continual monitoring of performance and security, spam protection, patch and revision management, Contact Center support, daily data backup, and full email administration support.

Microsoft SharePoint Server 2007 Integration Services
Progent can offer expertise for planning, configuring, and maintaining successful SharePoint Server solutions that can significantly enhance key areas of your organization's information system including teamwork, web portal, company-wide search, forms-based business processes, delivery of actionable information, and content management. Progent's Microsoft Gold certified consultants can assist you to assess the business benefit for adopting SharePoint Server, deliver configuration and installation expertise, assist you to set up SQL Server as a back-end database, optimize your network architecture, integrate your off-the-shelf and custom business software to work with Microsoft SharePoint Server, create a comprehensive security strategy that incorporates portal technology, and provide online and on-premises repair and Help Desk Call Center services.

Microsoft SQL Server Integration and Maintenance
Progent's SQL Server engineers can help your organization configures Microsoft SQL 2008 efficiently, and that your SQL Server data management solution is integrated seamlessly with your application software. Progent can provide 24x7 network monitoring to ensure your corporate information system is healthy, and Progent's remote Help Desk Call Center is ready to provide quick solutions for SQL problems. Progent's certified data protection experts can evaluate your business-wide security policies and mechanisms and recommend enhancements for more complete protection. Progent's application developers can help you to develop or customize line-of-business programs or eCommerce sites rely on information controlled by Microsoft SQL Server.

Windows Active Directory Support Services
Microsoft Windows Active Directory demands extensive hands-on experience to configure efficiently across a large corporation. Progent’s Microsoft certified Active Directory consultants are skilled in designing, integrating, and troubleshooting complex Microsoft Enterprise Active Directory installations. Progent’s areas of expertise with Microsoft Windows 2003 and 2008 AD include replication issues, multi-domain partition configurations, correcting corrupted AD objects, cleaning up residual legacy version configuration objects in online AD systems, and fixing unsuccessful configurations of Active Directory and Active Directory-associated applications.

PC Desktop Consulting and Support Services
Progent's certified desktop support consultants offer a broad range of affordable support services to help your business to install, integrate, repair, and manage desktop PCs and laptops based on Windows. Progent can provide onsite or online technical support for individual desktop computers and moble devices or work with your business to plan and implement a company-wide migration to the newest release of Windows. Progent can also configure Office or Microsoft Dynamics programs on your workstations so they integrate productively with all Microsoft applications, products from third-party publishers, business servers, and key services throughout your network. Progent can also provide consultants and technicians to help you to plan for and implement a company move or merger designed to cause the least possible interruption to your productivity.

Wireless and Mobility Technologies Support
Progent’s professionals provide experience in a variety of disciplines relevant to mobile connectivity including network infrastructure, wireless data synchronization, wireless protection, wireless e-mail, Microsoft Windows Mobile, Research in Motion Blackberry, and mobile application development. Progent's Microsoft certified professionals can save your organization time and expense by using their wireless expertise to show you how to choose and integrate wireless networking solutions that make sense for your business. Progent can also optimize your IT architecture so that mobile PDAs work better.

Emergency Remote Technical Support
Progent’s Technical Response Center provides national remote troubleshooting for Windows and Cisco-based small business information networks. Progent's Microsoft and Cisco-Certified support engineers offer telephone help and online secure computer access to isolate and resolve technical problems rapidly and economically. The scope of IT experience represented by Progent's staff of country-wide service engineers makes it possible to escalate even the toughest network issues to qualified specialists as required.

For additional details concerning Progent's consulting support for Microsoft Communications Server, phone 1-800-993-9400 or see Contact Progent.