IT Technology News and Progent Solutions

Microsoft made available the Release 2 version of Microsoft Communications Server, Microsoft's solution for streamlining presence awareness, IM infrastructure, web conferencing, and software-based VoIP. The latest version of Microsoft Communications Server 2007 features improvements that give network administrators additional versatility for maintaining their communications system efficiently while providing an extensible platform for communications-enabled work activity.

To reduce expenses, increase productivity, and promote teamwork, the new Release 2 of Office Communications Server 2007 permits phone conferencing to replace expensive outside services with an in-house audioconferencing bridge that can be maintained as part of an organization's overall communications environment. Office Communications Server 2007 Release 2 also now features desktop sharing, which allows users to share their desktop transparently and initiate audio communications and collaborate with colleagues external to the company on Windows PC, Mac, or Linux-powered computers via a Web-based interface. The new version of Microsoft Office Communications Server also enables geographically dispersed teams to work together by taking part in theme-based dialogues that extend over time. This application supplies users with a list of all active chat rooms and topics, automatically archives discussions in a format that meets auditing regulations, provides utilities to search the entire history of chat on a given topic, and offers triggers and alerts to notify people about new posts.

the latest version of Microsoft Communications Server also includes enhanced support for voice and mobility. The new attendant window permits support personnel or group secretaries to manage phone calls and conferences on behalf of other users, set up processes to direct calls, and manage larger volumes of incoming calls through a software-based console. The Session Initiation Protocol trunking feature allows businesses to reduce expenses by setting up a straight-through Voice over IP connection between an IP telephony service supplier and Microsoft Communications Server without requiring in-house gateways. In addition, Office Communicator Mobile functionality has been extended to more platforms such as the Nokia S40, RIM Blackberry, and Windows Mobile.

How Progent's Microsoft-certified Engineers Can Help You to Integrate Office Communications Server 2007
A Standard Edition Microsoft Communications Server hosts all necessary services on one physical Front End Server. The small investment in hardware and simplicity of administration make this version is ideal for small and mid-sized companies and for remote offices. Office Communications Server is powered by Windows Server and takes advantage of powerful Windows Server technologies such as Active Directory, SQL Server, System Center Operations Manager, and Exchange Server. With Office Communications Server 2007, you can add real-time collaboration features and presence to ubiquitous Office applications like as Outlook, Microsoft Office Excel, and Word. Presence awareness from the server can also be added to productivity applications. Office Communications Server also serves as the presence engine for collaborative web sites and portals, delivering presence and Instant Messaging support from within Windows SharePoint Services sites.

Progent's Microsoft-certified professionals can provide expert consulting support for all these technologies and can help your company in planning and executing a rollout of Microsoft Communications Server so as to optimize the productivity value of this IM, presence, and VoIP solution. Progent can in addition assist you to upgrade from Microsoft Live Communications Server to the latest edition of Office Communications Server.

Progent's IT professionals can help your company to deploy Office Communications Server 2007 and configure a range of Microsoft technologies to benefit from the presence awareness, Instant Messaging, and VoIP features available with Office Communications Server 2007:

Windows Server 2008 Consulting
Progent provides a variety of Microsoft Windows Server 2008 planning and integration support that can assist small organizations to get the most from Microsoft Windows Server 2008. Progent's Microsoft Gold certified engineers can help you to understand the ways Windows Server 2008 could enhance the business value of your network so that you can cost-justify an upgrade. Progent can help you test Microsoft Windows Server 2008 in order to determine its stability, responsiveness, and operability handling your workloads. Progent can assist with creating a deployment plan, assess and improve existing network environment, document backup and restoration procedures, evaluate security architecture and policies, assist in installing physical and virtual servers, develop high-availability strategies including server and storage clustering with Hyper-V, train your in-house network management team, and deploy automated server monitoring processes to track your information system's protection and efficiency.

Exchange Server Design, Configuration, Troubleshooting, and Hosting Support
Progent's Microsoft certified support team can help you design and implement a smooth Microsoft Exchange 2007 migration plan that avoids network downtime, reduces ongoing service requirements, and makes your Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 easy to manage. Progent's Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 help, troubleshooting, and design services include assistance with the configuration of third-party enhancements of Exchange Server 2007 and the design of unified messaging solutions based on Microsoft Exchange 2007 Server. Progent's MS Exchange Hosting Support Services offer a world-class data center with backed-up electrical and cooling systems, 24x7 staffed security and IT support center, plus fault-tolerant connections to tier-1 Internet service companies. Hosted Exchange servers are set up as virtual machines for high uptime, easy scalability, and rapid recovery. Services feature complete incorporation with your business network, connectivity with mobile computing devices, continual tracking of performance and security, spam filtering, security update and revision management, Contact Center support, per-day data backup, and full messaging administration support.

SharePoint Server Consulting and Support
Progent can offer assistance for designing, configuring, and maintaining productive SharePoint Server solutions that will significantly enhance key aspects of your organization's IT system including teamwork, intranet portal, corporate-wide search, forms-driven business processes, delivery of actionable information, and document management. Progent's Microsoft-qualified engineers can assist your company to assess the business case for adopting Office SharePoint, deliver configuration and integration support, assist your business to set up SQL Server 2008 as a back-end database, optimize your network infrastructure, integrate your off-the-shelf and specialized application programs to operate with Microsoft SharePoint Server, create a comprehensive security plan that includes web portal solutions, and deliver remote and in-person troubleshooting and Help Desk support.

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Programming and Support
Progent's SQL Server consultants can help your small business configures SQL Server 2008 efficiently, and that your SQL-based RDBM system is integrated effectively with your application software. Progent offers 24x7 server tracking to make sure your corporate network is always available, and Progent's online Help Desk is available to provide quick solutions for SQL-related problems. Progent's certified computer protection experts can assess your business-wide security processes and technologies and suggest enhancements for more complete regulatory compliance. Progent's developers can help you to create or personalize line-of-business programs or web sites rely on information controlled by Microsoft SQL Server.

Windows Active Directory Consulting and Support Services
Windows Active Directory demands significant field experience to integrate efficiently across a large corporation. Progent’s Microsoft certified Active Directory engineers are experienced in planning, deploying, and supporting sophisticated Enterprise Active Directory projects. Progent’s fields of proven competence with Microsoft Windows 2003 and 2008 Active Directory include replication issues, multi-domain partition configurations, correcting corrupted Active Directory objects, cleaning up residual legacy software configuration objects in online Active Directory systems, and fixing failed configurations of Active Directory and Active Directory-associated applications.

PC Desktop Support Services
Progent's Microsoft-certified desktop support consultants offer a broad array of cost-effective support services to assist your company to deploy, configure, troubleshoot, and manage workstations and notebooks powered by Windows. Progent can provide on-premises or remote help for individual desktop computers and handheld devices or work with you to plan and carry out a company-wide migration to the latest release of Windows. Progent can also install Microsoft Office or Microsoft Dynamics programs on your client PCs so they integrate productively with other Microsoft programs, software from popular vendors, database servers, and line-of-business solutions network-wide. Progent can also provide consultants and technicians to help your company to plan for and implement a company move or consolidation organized to cause the least possible interruption to your business.

Wireless and Mobility Technologies Planning and Support
Progent’s consultants provide expertise in a variety of disciplines related to mobile connectivity such as system infrastructure, Activesync, wireless security, mobile e-mail, Windows Mobile, Research in Motion Blackberry, and mobile application development. Progent's Microsoft certified consultants can save your business time and money by applying their wireless experience to help you choose and configure mobile access solutions that make sense for your business. Progent can also tune your network architecture so that mobile data devices perform more reliably.

Emergency Remote Technical Support
Progent’s Technical Response Center provides nationwide remote help for Windows and Cisco-based small office information networks. Progent's Microsoft and Cisco-Certified service experts provide telephone help and online secure network access to isolate and repair network problems rapidly and affordably. The breadth of IT experience available from Progent's team of nationwide support engineers makes it possible to escalate even the toughest problems to appropriate experts as required.

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