Microsoft Lync: The Most Open and Actually Connected UC Solution

NOTE: This article is in progress and may get additional data and corrections.
NOTE: Lync can do all the below federation without additional hardware, software or licenses cost from Lync perspective.

Which major unified communication solution connects and allows you to collaborate with the most people outside your organization? In many cases with no extra hardware?

Below are some of the UC solutions Lync Server 2013 allow you to collaborate with “out of box”:

Solution		Users	Modalities	How
Lync On-Premise		+15k Known Orgs	All
Office365		+5m	All	Click Here
Live Messenger*		?	IM/P/Audio/Video	Click Here
AOL/AIM		4m?	IM/P	Click Here
Skype		280m	IM/P/Audio**	n/a
USA SMS mobile***		+300m	IM	Click Here
Google Talk		423m	IM/P	Click Here Click Here
Cisco Webex		unknown	IM/P	Click Here
Cisco Jabber		unknown	IM/P	?
IBM Sametime		unknown	IM/P	Click Here4
Openfire		unknown	IM/P	?
Avaya		unknown	IM/P	Click Here

* will soon be rolled into Skype
** Audio coming in 2013
*** Using AOL PIC; Okay, I know we’re stretching, but there IS connectivity!
4) IBM SameTime requires gateway from IBM to connect to other solutions: Click Here

Some Commercial “Federation” Solutions

http://www.nextplane.net/microsoft-supported-uc-platforms.html
http://www.thrupoint.com/solutions/uc-federation.html

Conclusion

Perhaps you disagree? If you have a UC solution you would nominate as the “most connected feel free to nominate via comments. (But please do include sources to support)

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Skype 1/3 of Phone Call Traffic:
http://arstechnica.com/business/2013/02/skype-calls-now-equivalent-to-one-third-of-global-phone-traffic/