IT Technology News and Progent IT Solutions

Microsoft introduced the next edition of Office Communications Server 2007, Microsoft's solution for managing presence, IM infrastructure, teleconferencing, and Voice over IP. The Release 2 version of Microsoft Office Communications Server includes improvements that give IT managers additional flexibility for maintaining their communications infrastructure efficiently while providing an expandable platform for communications-enabled business activity.

To reduce expenses, increase efficiency, and support teamwork, the latest Release 2 of Office Communications Server allows dial-in conferencing to replace costly third-part services with an in-house audioconferencing bridge that is controlled as part of an organization's current communications infrastructure. Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 Release 2 also now features desktop sharing, which enables users to share their PC seamlessly and initiate calls and collaborate with others external to the organization on PC, Macintosh, or Linux-powered computers through a web interface. The new edition of Microsoft Office Communications Server also enables geographically scattered groups to collaborate by participating in topic-based dialogues that persist over time. This tool provides users with a list of all active discussion sessions and themes, automatically archives discussions in a format that meets auditing regulations, provides utilities to search the entire record of discussion on a specific theme, and provides triggers and alarms to notify people of recent updates.

The new version of Office Communications Server 2007 also includes improved support for voice communications and mobile workers. The new attendant window allows receptionists or group administrators to control phone calls and conferences on behalf of associates, establish workflows to direct phone calls, and manage larger volumes of incoming calls via a user-friendly interface. A new SIP trunking capability allows businesses to cut costs by establishing up a direct VoIP connection between an IP telephony service provider and Microsoft Communications Server without requiring in-house VoIP gateways. In addition, Microsoft Office Communicator Mobile support now includes new device platforms including the Motorola RAZR, RIM Blackberry, and Windows Mobile.

How Progent's Microsoft-certified Engineers Can Help You to Benefit from Microsoft Communications Server
A Standard Edition Microsoft Office Communications Server hosts all required services on one physical Front End Server. The small investment in computer hardware and simplicity of management make this configuration is optimal for small and medium-sized companies and for remote offices. Office Communications Server 2007 is based on Windows Server and takes advantage of core Windows platforms like as Active Directory, SQL Server, System Center Operations Manager, and Microsoft Exchange Server. With Microsoft Communications Server, you can incorporate real-time collaboration features and presence to popular Microsoft Office applications such as Microsoft Office Outlook, Microsoft Office Excel, and Microsoft Word. Presence awareness generated by the server can also be incorporated into line-of-business applications. Office Communications Server also serves as the presence mechanism for team sites and web portals, delivering presence and Instant Messaging support from within Windows SharePoint sites.

Progent's Microsoft-certified professionals offer professional consulting services for all these technologies and can help you in planning and implementing a rollout of Microsoft Communications Server 2007 in order to optimize the productivity impact of this IM, presence, and VoIP solution. Progent can also assist you to migrate from Live Communications Server to the latest version of Microsoft Communications Server 2007.

Progent's consulting experts can assist you to deploy Office Communications Server and integrate a wide of Microsoft platforms to benefit from the presence, IM, and VoIP capabilities available with Microsoft Office Communications Server:

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Integration
Progent offers a range of Windows Server 2008 consulting and integration services that can assist small businesses to benefit from Windows Server 2008. Progent's Microsoft-certified consultants can help your company to understand the ways Microsoft Windows Server 2008 could enhance the business value of your IT system so that you can cost-justify a migration. Progent can show you how to test Microsoft Windows Server 2008 so that you can determine its stability, responsiveness, and compatibility running realistic workloads. Progent can assist with creating a deployment plan, assess and improve existing network infrastructure, document archiving and restoration procedures, analyze security architecture and policies, help in setting up actual and virtualized machines, develop high-availability strategies including failover server clustering, educate your in-house network administration team, and set up proactive server monitoring operations to ensure system security and efficiency.

Microsoft Exchange Server Planning, Configuration, Maintenance, and Hosting Services
Progent's expert consultants can show you how to design and deploy a smooth Exchange Server 2007 upgrade strategy that avoids network downtime, reduces long-term support requirements, and makes your Exchange Server 2007 easy to manage. Progent's Microsoft Exchange 2007 help, troubleshooting, and consulting offerings include assistance with the configuration of outside vendor add-ons to Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 and the design of unified messaging implementations powered by Microsoft Exchange Server 2007. Progent's Microsoft Exchange Hosting and Management Services offer an enterprise-class data center with backed-up electrical and cooling systems, round-the-clock site security and IT support center, plus fault-tolerant connections to tier-1 Internet service companies. Hosted Microsoft Exchange servers are set up as virtual servers for high uptime, smooth expandability, and rapid restoration. Services include complete incorporation with your business network, access to mobile communication products, automated monitoring of efficiency and security, spam filtering, patch and service pack control, Help Desk support, per-day backup, and full email management support.

SharePoint Server Help
Progent can offer assistance for designing, deploying, and maintaining productive SharePoint Server installations that will dramatically improve important aspects of your company's information network such as teamwork, intranet portal, company-wide search, forms-driven business processes, delivery of business information, and document control. Progent's Microsoft-certified engineers can help your company to assess the business case for implementing SharePoint Server, provide configuration and integration support, help you to configure Microsoft SQL Server as a back-office database, optimize your network infrastructure, integrate your standard and custom business software to work with Microsoft Office SharePoint Server, develop a company-wide protection strategy that includes web portal technology, and provide remote and on-premises repair and Call Center services.

SQL Server Programming and Support
Progent's SQL Server engineers can help you installs SQL Server 2008 properly, and that your SQL Server data management solution is incorporated thoroughly with your application software. Progent offers continuous network monitoring to make sure your business information system is working efficiently, and Progent's remote Help Desk is ready to provide fast solutions for SQL issues. Progent's certified network protection consultants can evaluate your business-wide security policies and mechanisms and recommend enhancements for better regulatory compliance. Progent's application developers can assist you to develop or personalize line-of-business programs or eCommerce sites utilize information controlled by SQL Server 2008.

Active Directory Consulting and Support Services
Windows Active Directory requires extensive practical experience to integrate efficiently across an enterprise. Progent’s Microsoft certified Active Directory experts are skilled in planning, deploying, and troubleshooting sophisticated Enterprise AD installations. Progent’s fields of proven competence with Windows 2003 and 2008 Active Directory include replication problems, multi-domain partition design, repair of corrupted Active Directory objects, dealing with legacy beta software configuration objects in online Active Directory systems, and repair of unsuccessful installations of AD and AD-associated applications.

PC Desktop Consulting and Support Services
Progent's certified desktop support consultants offer a wide range of cost-effective consulting and support services to assist your company to install, configure, troubleshoot, and administer workstations and laptops based on Microsoft Windows. Progent can provide on-premises or online help for single PCs and handheld devices or help you to plan and implement a network-wide migration to the most current release of Microsoft Windows. Progent can also install Office or Microsoft Dynamics applications on your client PCs so they communicate efficiently with all Microsoft programs, products from third-party publishers, SQL databases, and line-of-business solutions throughout your network. Progent can also provide consultants and technicians to assist your company to prepare for and implement an office relocation or merger organized to produce minimal interruption to your productivity.

Wireless Technologies Integration
Progent’s consultants offer expertise in a variety of technologies related to mobile connectivity such as network infrastructure, Activesync, wireless security, wireless email, Windows Mobile, RIM Blackberry, and mobile software development. Progent's Microsoft certified consultants can save your business time and expense by using their wireless experience to show you how to choose and integrate wireless connectivity solutions that make sense for your company. Progent can also tune your network architecture so that wireless data devices work more reliably.

Urgent Online Troubleshooting
Progent’s Technical Response Center provides nationwide remote assistance for Windows and Cisco-based small office computer networks. Progent's Microsoft and Cisco-Certified support engineers offer telephone support and remote direct network connection to troubleshoot and repair technical problems rapidly and affordably. The scope of IT experience represented by Progent's team of nationwide service engineers allows Progent to escalate even the toughest network issues to qualified specialists as required.

To learn additional details about Progent's consulting services for Microsoft Communications Server 2007, phone 1-800-993-9400 or go to Contact Progent.