IT Technology News and Progent IT Solutions

Microsoft unveiled the most recent version of Microsoft Communications Server 2007, Microsoft's platform for unifying presence, IM infrastructure, video conferencing, and software-based VoIP. The latest edition of Microsoft Communications Server includes improvements that give IT organizations additional versatility for maintaining their communications infrastructure effectively while providing an extensible platform for communications-enabled work processes.

To lower costs, improve productivity, and support collaboration, the latest edition of Microsoft Office Communications Server permits phone conferencing to eliminate expensive third-part services with an in-house audioconferencing software bridge that is controlled along with a company's existing communications infrastructure. Office Communications Server 2007 also now features desktop sharing, which allows workers to share their desktop seamlessly and initiate audio communications and cooperate with colleagues external to the organization on PC, Macintosh, or Linux computers through a Web-based interface. The new edition of Office Communications Server also allows geographically dispersed teams to collaborate by taking part in theme-based discussions that persist over time. This tool provides users with a list of all active chat rooms and topics, periodically archives chats in a format that meets auditing regulations, provides tools to look through the complete history of discussion on a specific theme, and offers triggers and alerts to inform people about recent updates.

the new edition of Office Communications Server 2007 also includes improved support for voice and mobility. The innovative attendant console allows receptionists or team administrators to manage phone calls and conferences on behalf of associates, establish processes to direct phone calls, and manage larger volumes of incoming calls through an intuitive software interface. A new SIP trunking feature enables companies to cut costs by establishing up a straight-through Voice over IP interface between an Internet telephony service provider and Microsoft Communications Server without requiring on-premises gateways. In addition, Microsoft Office Communicator Mobile functionality now includes new platforms including the Nokia S40, RIM Blackberry, and Windows Mobile.

How Progent's Microsoft-certified Consultants Can Help You to Benefit from Office Communications Server 2007
A Standard Edition Office Communications Server hosts all necessary services on a single Front End Server. The minimal investment in computer hardware and ease of administration make this version is ideal for small and mid-sized companies and for branch offices. Microsoft Communications Server is powered by Windows Server and takes advantage of powerful Windows platforms like as Active Directory, SQL Server, System Center Operations Manager, and Exchange Server. With Office Communications Server, you can incorporate instant collaboration features and presence awareness to popular Office programs like as Microsoft Office Outlook, Excel, and Word. Presence information from the server can also be integrated into line-of-business software. Microsoft Communications Server also acts as the presence engine for team sites and web portals, providing presence awareness and IM support from within Windows SharePoint sites.

Progent's Microsoft-certified engineers can provide professional consulting support for all these technologies and can help your company in planning and executing an installation of Office Communications Server 2007 so as to maximize the business value of this communications solution. Progent can in addition help you to upgrade from Microsoft Live Communications Server 2005 to the current edition of Microsoft Office Communications Server.

Progent's consulting experts can help your company to deploy Office Communications Server and integrate a range of Microsoft platforms to take advantage of the presence, Instant Messaging, and Voice over IP capabilities available with Office Communications Server:

Windows Server 2008 Consulting
Progent offers a range of Windows Server 2008 planning and maintenance support that can help small organizations to benefit from Windows Server 2008. Progent's Microsoft-certified consultants can help you to evaluate the areas where Windows Server 2008 could enhance the business value of your network so that you can rationalize a migration. Progent can help you test Microsoft Windows Server 2008 so that you can determine its reliability, responsiveness, and operability handling realistic applications. Progent can provide consulting for creating a rollout strategy, evaluate and improve your current network infrastructure, develop backup and recovery procedures, analyze security mechanisms and policies, assist in setting up physical and virtual servers, develop fault-tolerant solutions such as failover server clustering, educate your in-house network administration staff, and set up proactive server and network monitoring operations to ensure your information system's security and efficiency.

Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Planning, Installation, and Troubleshooting Services
Progent's expert consultants can help you design and implement a smooth Microsoft Exchange 2007 migration plan that avoids productivity disruption, simplifies long-term service requirements, and makes your Exchange Server 2007 easy to manage. Progent's Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 support, repair, and consulting services include assistance with the configuration of third-party add-ons to Exchange 2007 Server and the design of unified messaging implementations powered by Exchange 2007 Server. Services feature complete incorporation with your network, connectivity with handheld communication devices, continual tracking of performance and security, spam protection, patch and service pack control, Helpdesk services, per-day backup, and comprehensive messaging management support.

SharePoint Server 2007 Integration Services
Progent can offer assistance for designing, configuring, and maintaining productive Microsoft Office SharePoint Server installations that can dramatically improve important aspects of your information environment including teamwork, intranet portal, company-wide search, forms-driven business processes, delivery of business intelligence, and content management. Progent's Microsoft-certified consultants can assist your company to assess the business case for implementing Office SharePoint, deliver setup and integration support, assist your business to configure Microsoft SQL Server as a back-end database engine, optimize your network infrastructure, set up your standard and custom application software to work with Office SharePoint Server, create a comprehensive security plan that includes web portal solutions, and provide remote and on-site repair and Call Center services.

SQL Server 2008 Consulting Services
Progent's SQL Server experts can help your company installs SQL Server 2008 properly, and that your SQL-based DBM system is integrated effectively with your applications. Progent offers continuous server tracking to ensure your business network is always available, and Progent's remote Help Desk Call Center is ready to provide fast solutions for SQL database issues. Progent's certified network security consultants can evaluate your business-wide security policies and mechanisms and recommend improvements for more complete regulatory compliance. Progent's application developers can help your company to create or personalize line-of-business programs or web sites utilize databases controlled by Microsoft SQL Server 2008.

Active Directory Consulting and Support Services
Microsoft Windows Active Directory requires significant practical experience to configure optimally across a large corporation. Progent's Microsoft qualified Active Directory consultants are experts in planning, deploying, and troubleshooting sophisticated Enterprise Active Directory projects. Progent's areas of expertise with Microsoft Windows 2003 and 2008 Active Directory include replication problems, multi-domain partition design, repair of corrupted Active Directory objects, dealing with legacy legacy software configuration objects in production Active Directory systems, and fixing failed configurations of Active Directory and Active Directory-integrated programs.

PC Desktop Support Services
Progent's certified desktop support consultants can deliver a broad range of affordable consulting and support services to help your business to install, integrate, repair, and manage workstations and notebooks based on Windows. Progent can offer onsite or remote help for single desktop computers and moble devices or work with your business to design and carry out a large-scale migration to the newest version of Windows. Progent can also install Microsoft Office or Microsoft Dynamics programs on your workstations so they integrate efficiently with all Microsoft programs, products from popular publishers, SQL databases, and line-of-business solutions network-wide. Progent can also provide engineers and technical workers to help your company to plan for and complete an office move or consolidation organized to cause the least possible disruption of your business.

Wireless and Mobility Solutions Consulting
Progent's professionals offer expertise in a variety of disciplines relevant to mobile networking including network topology, Activesync, wireless protection, mobile e-mail, Microsoft Windows Mobile, Research in Motion Blackberry, and wireless application programming. Progent's Microsoft and Cisco certified professionals can save your company time and money by applying their wireless expertise to help you select and configure mobile networking technologies that make sense for your company. Progent can also optimize your IT architecture so that mobile PDAs perform better.

Emergency Remote Technical Support
Progent's Technical Response Center provides nationwide remote assistance for Windows and Cisco-based small business IT networks. Progent's Microsoft and Cisco-Premier support professionals offer telephone help and online secure computer connection to troubleshoot and resolve technical problems rapidly and economically. The scope of IT experience available from Progent's team of country-wide service engineers allows Progent to escalate even the most difficult network issues to appropriate specialists as required.

To learn more information concerning Progent's consulting expertise for Office Communications Server 2007, call 1-800-993-9400 or see Contact Progent.