Technology News and Progent Business Solutions

Microsoft unveiled the latest version of Microsoft Communications Server 2007, Microsoft's platform for managing presence, instant messaging, video conferencing, and IP-based calling. The Release 2 version of Microsoft Communications Server 2007 features improvements that offer network administrators additional flexibility for supporting their communications system efficiently while providing an expandable architecture for collaborative business processes.

To reduce expenses, increase productivity, and enhance collaboration, the latest release of Microsoft Office Communications Server permits phone conferencing to replace costly third-part services with an on-premises conferencing software bridge that is maintained as part of a company's current communications environment. Office Communications Server also now permits desktop sharing, which enables users to share their PC seamlessly and initiate audio communications and collaborate with others external to the company on Windows PC, Mac, or Linux-powered computers via a Web-based interface. The latest version of Office Communications Server 2007 also enables geographically dispersed teams to work together by participating in theme-based dialogues that persist over time. This application provides users with a list of all available discussion sessions and topics, automatically backs up discussions in a format that addresses auditing requirements, provides tools to search the complete history of chat on a given topic, and offers filters and alerts to inform people about new updates.

The new version of Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 also includes improved support for voice and mobile workers. The new attendant console permits support personnel or team administrators to manage phone calls and conferences on behalf of other users, establish workflows to route phone calls, and manage larger numbers of incoming communications via a software-based console. The SIP trunking capability allows businesses to cut expenses by setting up a direct Voice over IP interface between an IP telephony service provider and Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 without requiring on-premises gateways. In addition, Office Communicator Mobile functionality has been extended to new platforms including the Motorola RAZR, RIM Blackberry, and Windows Mobile.

How Progent's Microsoft-certified Engineers Can Help Your Business to Integrate Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007
A Standard Edition Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 hosts all necessary services on a single Front End Server. The small expense in computer hardware and ease of management make this version is ideal for small and mid-sized companies and for remote offices. Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 relies on Microsoft Windows Server and takes advantage of powerful Windows platforms such as Active Directory, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft System Center Operations Manager, and Microsoft Exchange Server. With Office Communications Server, you can incorporate real-time teamwork capabilities and presence to popular Office programs like as Outlook, Microsoft Office Excel, and Microsoft Office Word. Presence information generated by your server can also be incorporated into line-of-business software. Office Communications Server 2007 also acts as the presence engine for team sites and web portals, providing presence awareness and Instant Messaging support from within SharePoint sites.

Progent's Microsoft-Gold certified engineers offer professional technical services for all these areas and can help your company in designing and implementing an installation of Microsoft Communications Server in order to optimize the productivity impact of this communications platform. Progent can in addition assist you to migrate from Microsoft Live Communications Server to the current version of Office Communications Server 2007.

Progent's IT professionals can assist your company to install Microsoft Office Communications Server and integrate a wide of Microsoft technologies to take advantage of the presence, Instant Messaging, and Voice over IP features enabled by Office Communications Server 2007:

Windows Server 2008 Consulting
Progent provides a variety of Windows Server 2008 consulting and maintenance support that can assist small companies to take advantage of Microsoft Windows Server 2008. Progent's Microsoft-certified consultants can assist you to understand the ways Windows Server 2008 could enhance the productivity of your IT system so that you can cost-justify an upgrade. Progent can help you test Windows Server 2008 in order to assess its stability, responsiveness, and compatibility running realistic applications. Progent can assist with creating a deployment plan, assess and improve existing network environment, develop archiving and restoration procedures, analyze security architecture and guidelines, assist in integrating actual and virtualized machines, design high-availability strategies such as server clustering with Hyper-V, train your in-house IT management team, and set up proactive 24x7 monitoring processes to ensure system security and efficiency.

Exchange Server 2007 Planning, Configuration, and Troubleshooting Support
Progent's Microsoft certified consultants can show you how to design and implement an efficient Microsoft Exchange 2007 migration plan that avoids network downtime, reduces ongoing support demands, and makes your Exchange 2007 Server easy to administer. Progent's Microsoft Exchange 2007 support, repair, and design offerings include assistance with the configuration of third-party enhancements of Exchange 2007 Server and the creation of unified messaging solutions powered by Microsoft Exchange Server 2007. Progent's services include integration with your network, access to mobile computing devices, continual tracking of performance and network security, spam filtering, security update and revision management, Help Desk Call Center services, per-day backup, and full email administration services.

Office SharePoint Server 2007 Integration Services
Progent can provide assistance for planning, configuring, and managing productive SharePoint Server installations that can dramatically improve key areas of your IT system including collaboration, intranet portal, enterprise search, forms-driven business operations, access to business intelligence, and document control. Progent's Microsoft-qualified consultants can assist your company to assess the business case for adopting SharePoint Server 2007, provide setup and installation support, assist you to configure SQL Server 2008 as a back-end database, optimize your network infrastructure, integrate your off-the-shelf and specialized application software to operate with Microsoft SharePoint Server 2007, develop a company-wide protection plan that includes portal technology, and provide online and on-site repair and Call Center support.

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Consulting Services
Progent's SQL Server experts can help you installs SQL 2008 properly, and that your SQL-powered DBM system is incorporated seamlessly with your applications. Progent can provide 24x7 network tracking to ensure your business information system is healthy, and Progent's online Technical Response Center is available to offer rapid solutions for SQL issues. Progent's certified computer security consultants can assess your business-wide security processes and mechanisms and recommend enhancements for better protection. Progent's developers can help you to develop or personalize line-of-business programs or web sites utilize databases controlled by Microsoft SQL Server 2008.

Windows Active Directory Consulting and Support Services
Microsoft Windows Active Directory demands extensive field experience to integrate efficiently across a large corporation. Progent’s Microsoft Gold certified Active Directory engineers are experienced in planning, deploying, and troubleshooting sophisticated Enterprise AD projects. Progent’s areas of proven competence with Windows 2003 and 2008 AD include replication issues, multi-domain partition configurations, repair of corrupted AD objects, dealing with legacy beta software configuration objects in online AD systems, and fixing unsuccessful configurations of AD and Active Directory-associated applications.

PC Desktop Support Services
Progent's Microsoft Gold certified desktop support experts can deliver a broad array of affordable support services to assist you business to install, configure, troubleshoot, and manage desktop PCs and notebooks based on Microsoft Windows. Progent can offer on-premises or online help for individual desktop computers and moble devices or work with your business to plan and carry out a large-scale rollout of the latest version of Windows. Progent can also configure Office or Microsoft Dynamics business applications on your workstations so they integrate productively with all Microsoft applications, products from third-party vendors, database servers, and key services throughout your network. Progent can also provide engineers and technical workers to assist you to plan for and implement an office relocation or merger organized to produce minimal interruption to your business.

Wireless and Mobility Technologies Expertise
Progent’s consultants provide expertise in a variety of disciplines relevant to mobile connectivity such as system topology, Activesync, wireless protection, mobile e-mail, Windows Mobile, Research in Motion Blackberry, and mobile software development. Progent's Microsoft and Cisco certified experts can save your company work and expense by applying their wireless background to show you how to choose and configure wireless access technologies that make sense for your business. Progent can also optimize your IT infrastructure so that wireless appliances perform better.

Emergency Online Troubleshooting
Progent’s Technical Response Center offers national remote troubleshooting for Windows and Cisco-based small business IT networks. Progent's Microsoft and Cisco-Premier service engineers provide telephone support and remote direct network access to isolate and resolve network problems rapidly and economically. The breadth of IT expertise available from Progent's staff of nationwide support professionals allows Progent to escalate even the toughest network issues to appropriate experts as needed.

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