Ever wish you would get a phone call as a convenient interuption? Ever setup Lync Server federation or an Edge at 1am and wish you could get an automated “buddy” to give you a call? Big Boss by Event Zero is a new, free, no sign-up web service that does this right now!
Just type in your contact info and click Go. That’s it.
[Note for security conscious people: David Tucker from Event Zero notes the tool *does not* collect your Lync User ID]
I just realized that Lync 2013 now has a very simple way of checking if a domain has federation enabled. Its just 2 simple steps:
If you want to check which of your Outlook contacts have Lync federation enable, even if you don’t have Lync, your welcome to download the free Lync Who Can Federate Tool available here: http://bit.ly/wcftool
If you want to take a look at a list of the thousands of organizations that have Lync you can head over to http://bit.ly/lyncfed.
So you have a Lync Phone Edition device with Better Together USB tether. You want to answer on the deskphone when you pickup the handset and from your USB/Bluetooth headset when you click on Accept” from Lync client. How do you do this?
Now calls dialed/answered from PC will use USB headset and calls dialed/answered from phone will use desk phone.
Note: You do not need an AOL account but you do need your Lync PIC AOL Federation.
Note: You need Lync 2010 or Lync Windows Store App to use this (more details below)
Due to the fact that SMS has recently hit its 20th anniversary, many are wondering what IM solution will replace SMS. Well, with this solution, or another solution using this concept, any IM/P solution could render test messaging less relevant. (Actually I’m quite interested in the subject of moving past SMS so if you have more ideas, please comment or twitter me @matthewlandis )
#1-Get PIC federation for AOL/AIM work correctly. Here are some tips on how to enable AIM/AOL PIC.
#2-Now just type in the phone number, prefixed by +1 and suffixed by @aol.com (e164 format) into Lync client. (Example: +18001112222@aol.com)
#3-If everything is working alright (with your PIC AOL federation) the contact should light up as "online" as shown below. (note, AOL doesn’t verify the sms # until you send the message) Now just send your message! That’s it!
Below is what the SMS mobile sees: The sms will come from a 6 digit number. Each sms will include the Lync URI so the person knows who the IM is coming from. And as clearly noted on each sms, the mobile user can reply.
Of course you can save a contact and give the SMS contact a nice name.
A good way to think about this service is that every USA mobile phone already has a corresponding AOL account. Identity/Authentication is done via the mobile phone number. Management of this account is done by sending SMS msgs to 26519. To get started send HELP to 26519. The mobile device can easily STOP this service.
Since this solution depends on simple federation it should work with any Lync client---unfortunately there is a snafu related to the URI starting with a +. It seems in some newer Lync clients any URI that starts with a + is hardwired to consider this a telephone number. This limitation means that you cannot federate with any contact/URI that starts with a + . (thanks to @tompacyk for pointing this out)
| Lync 2010 | Works |
| Lync Attendant | Works |
| Lync 2013 Windows Store App (RT) | Works |
| Lync 2013 Basic | Doesn’t Work |
| Lync 2013 | Doesn’t Work |
| Lync Mobile for Windows Phone | Doesn’t Work |
| Lync Mobile for Android | Doesn’t Work |
| Lync Mobile for iPhone | Untested |
| Lync Mobile for iPad | Untested |
| Pidgin 2.10.0 w/SIPE | Works |
Other Microsoft Lync to SMS Gateways:
http://www.geomant.com/microsoft-solutions/microsoft-1/microsoft-child-page-1/
More stuff on AOL / SMS:
http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/116/send-sms-text-messages-from-aim/
http://infrastructurehelp.wordpress.com/2012/04/28/troubleshooting-pic-federation/
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/897567?wa=wsignin1.0
Test AOL PIC/Federation: sipcheck@aol.com
http://help.aol.com/help/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&externalId=185634
Did you know that you can Instant Message from Lync using speech recognition? You can.
Many people are unaware that Windows 7 includes a free and quite impressive speech recognition and dictation app called Windows Speech Recognition. All you need to do is run Windows Speech Recognition, put the focus on the Lync IM window and…start talking…
When would you want to use this? I’ll let that up to you…my job was to let you know you can do it!
This is one of those “smack on my forehead why didn’t I think of it before” tips that @tommyclark has been using in his emails for some time and @patrichard’s mention of it prompted me to right this little tip.
Want to make your Outlook signature phones and and Lync addresses clickable? Just prefix a phone number with TEL: and SIP URI/Lync Address with SIP: and it will become click to dial for phone numbers and click to IM for Lync Addresses!
This little trick works any where there is HTML content in Windows.
Credit Where Credit is Due:
@tommyclarke’s Lync Blog Ultimate Communications
@patrichard Exchange and Lync Blog Ehlo World!
More Lync User QuickTips: http://windowspbx.blogspot.com/search/label/LyncUserTip
We talked in a previous QuickTip post about how to create one button shortcuts to call or instant message a Lync contact. In this post we’ll talk about making call transfer less steps in Lync 2010.
If you are a fan of desk phones with a multitude of buttons or you subscribe to the three click philosophy* and you have to transfer quite a few calls to a handful of common contacts, you may take issue with the Microsoft Lync call transfer experience. (Please note that the Lync Attendant is extremely efficient and does indeed allow a call transfer in 2 clicks and is very efficient! We are aiming this article at those who cannot use Attendant because they need some Lync 2010 feature like desk sharing, video or meeting join) But what if you are a common Lync user that needs to commonly transfer calls, what is the experience for you?
The first step to transfer during a live call is to press Menu | Down Arrow (3times) | Select…
Now we are at 5 key presses and we are ready to select a Contact. From here we can either type what will be a 3/4 digit extension (and not know the users status before we transfer) or start type the first, say, 3 letters we now of their name. So lets say it’s a good day and we could type 2 letters and press Transfer. Done! (If you are a believer in the three click philosophy* you were counting and noted that was approximately 8 or more clicks)
snom, in one of there marketing videos for the snom UC Edition perhaps are the most eloquent in outlining the challenge, saying it this way: “Try this with a Lync Phone Edition…”
On the Lync 2010 client you click on Call Transfer | Another Person or Number | and then you will see an alphabetical list of your contacts. (Or you can press CTRL+SHiFT+T to jump right to the next screen.)
Now we will be presented with the “Transfer Call” contact list. This list is your contacts presented in alphabetical order. In most cases you will need to start typing the name, when the match is found you can press enter to complete transfer. (5 clicks/keys)
There are several solutions to help with this that involve buying a product:
Here is a way using a simple AutoHotkey script.
;document first hot key
;#F3 = pressing WindowsKey plus F3 will fire this line
;^+T = will send the keystrokes ctrl+shift+T to the select window
;lyncuser03@domain.com = uri to be transferred to
#F3::Send ^+Tlyncuser03@domain.com{Enter}{enter}
#F4::Send ^+Tlyncuser04@domain.com{Enter}{enter}
#F5::Send ^+Tlyncuser05@domain.com{Enter}{enter}
#s::Send ^+Tlyncuser06@domain.com{Enter}{enter}
NOTE: You can compile your script so you don’t even need to install AutoHotKey on the PC running the script. See AutoHotKey help.
More Lync User QuickTips: http://windowspbx.blogspot.com/search/label/LyncUserTip
* This is the belief that anything done regularly needs to be 3 clicks or less. Since I can’t find who came up with this I’ll just take responsibility for it.
I don’t have much to say about this tip: Just go out to TechNet Gallery and get the Lync Select Dial app. This nifty tool will dial any number or SIP URI you select. Just make a selection and press F8. That’ it!
Lync Select Dial is a small tray app that dials whatever you select.
This means your can quickly dial from all browsers, CRM, ERP, Spreadsheets, Line of business apps and any app you can select a phone number from.
Hey, I just “select and dialed” from DOS! (right click | Edit | Mark | select with mouse | {ENTER} | F8)
Using Lync Select Dial in Chrome!
Lync Select Dialing from Excel.. (I found doing ctrl+c selects a cell in Excel)
You get the idea, one key press to dial from anywhere.
Get the app here:
http://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/Lync-Copy-Dial-Just-Select-3c426244
More Lync User QuickTips: http://windowspbx.blogspot.com/search/label/LyncUserTip
Have you ever found yourself wishing for the “good ole’ days” when a button press on a desk phone could dial a specific contact? There are a couple aspects of “legacy” buttons that hard to improve on:
There are a couple downsides to buttons like: there are never enough, it can be hard to find the desired contact in rows and rows of buttons…and more I’m sure, but today we will give the steps to bring back 1 Click (or 1 button press) shortcuts for dialing or IM'ing common contacts or phone numbers.
The overview of what we are going to do is: Create a simple Windows desktop shortcut that points to TEL: or SIP: url to start a conversation with a specific contact with one shortcut keypress.
First, right click anywhere on your desktop and then click New | Shortcut.
Type in SIP: or TEL: followed by the contact you want to initiate a conversation with.
NOTE: Unfortunately to start a voice call with a SIP URI you will need to click “Call”.
Next you can give your shortcut a Name/Description. I suggest prefixing it with the Keyboard hotkey shortcut you are planning to use. (this will be configured in a later step)
Now you have a shortcut. Click on it will start a conversation with this contact. SIP: will start an IM and TEL: will start a voice call.
Now we can further enhance our shortcut by adding a Shortcut Key and unique Icon.
Now you have a shortcut that will start and IM or initiate a Voice call using the assigned Shortcut key any where in Windows. Of course you can drag this shortcut onto the taskbar so it is visible and any other tricks you can think of that Windows shortcuts can do.
Another Way to make 1 Key Shortcuts:
Lync HotKey Contact Dialer App on TechNet: Click Here
(Note: One benefit of the Hotkey Contact Dialer is that you can have true 1 button to start a voice call)
More Lync User QuickTips: http://windowspbx.blogspot.com/search/label/LyncUserTip
Ever want to record a Lync to PSTN call but stymied by Lync’s need for call to be a conference call? Here is a very simple work around…
#1- Make the PSTN/Phone call
#2- Click on People Options | Invite by Email.
#3- An email meeting invite will result, you can just close it. Now the call will be a conference and you can start recording. Note that the PSTN side of the call will get a recording “the meeting is being recorded”
Note: A slick alternative to “Invite by Email” trick is to drag a contact that cannot do a Conference (like a Live Messenger or even an Offline Lync Contact). The contact will fail to join, but the call will then be converted to a Conference and you will be able to recording as well. If you have your Lync admin create a Lync user name “Recording” that is always Offline, this will make logical sense in the CDR and Missed Call Log.
Note: Your Lync administrator does need to have Lync recording enabled, if they need any help with that, have them take a look at the below excellent tutorial:
http://ucken.blogspot.com/2010/11/lync-call-recording.html
See the whole Lync User Tips Series:
http://windowspbx.blogspot.com/search/label/LyncUserTip
One of the great things about Microsoft Lync is how it lights up hitherto hidden information. One of these items is the Outlook Busy/Free status. We find it is not uncommon for organizations/users to not be paying much attention to Outlook free/busy state until they implement Microsoft Lync …then presence starts being set by it and it is nicely visible! Outlook has been storing this information all along, but since it is somewhat "out of sight" it is not being set correctly by the user. This becomes important when Lync presence starts using that info.
By default this integration is turned on, but if not: Just click on the Options button (upper right of Lync client) then click Personal as shown below.
Once you’ve configured this, your Lync presence will be set based on Meetings and Appointments from Outlook.
So what is the delay? Well, by default Lync only checks in with Exchange Web Services and changes Lync Busy/Free state every so often (by default, roughly every 30 minutes).
Also, some users think that if they click “Reset Status” the Lync will immediately check Outlook and set Lync to Outlook Free/Busy state. In reality Lync will takes its standard interval (mentioned above) and check at the next interval. ( default up to 30minutes, but admin can set longer or shorter.) This may seems a little long, but it does optimize network traffic.
This interval can be changed/shortened by your Lync administrator using Justin Morris’ great article below:
http://www.justin-morris.net/how-does-lync-2010-use-exchange-calendar-information/
Depending on how you setup an appointment or meeting’s Free/Busy setting, will depend how Lync shows your status when that appointment is in progress.
For Appointments this is how Free/Busy Affects What Users See in Lync:
For Meetings this is the mapping:
If a Lync contact has you as WorkGroup or closer Privacy Relationship you can see their Calendar Appointment/Meetings’ Subject and Location as shown below. This is very cool for answering the question “Your busy, but what are you doing?”.
If you cannot see the details of the Calendar appointment/meeting, this means that the contact in question does not have you set as WorkGroup (or Friends and Family) in Privacy Relationship. Just ask them to do this.
What Happens if you schedule a meeting/appt that starts before now?
-It seems this works fine, Lync will check the free/busy state at the normal interval, and change it.
What If i change/set my presence, does Hover to see current appt/mtg still work?
-Yes, it will say set presence, but still show meeting.
See the whole Lync User QuickTips Series:
http://windowspbx.blogspot.com/search/label/LyncUserTip
Do any of the below scenarios catch you?
The Lync Mobile client does not save Missed, Incoming and Outgoing voice calls. Also, It doesn’t save conversations history of IM’s that didn’t originate on Lync Mobile. How can get get around this? One simple way is by adding the Exchange/Outlook Conversation History email folder to your mobile device.
Note: My instructions will be Windows Phone specific here, but I’m sure you iOS and Android people can apply this trick to your devices. (but of course not as beautifully as with a Windows Phone tile ;-)
To add the Exchange/Outlook Conversation History email folder to your Windows Phone:
Notes/Caveats:
See the whole Lync User Tips Series:
http://windowspbx.blogspot.com/search/label/LyncUserTip
Some features in Microsoft Lync 2010 route you to webpage user interface (like Response Group logging in and out), and by default will prompt you for your credentials (as shown below). If you add this LyncWeb URL to the Local Intranet this will save you this inconvenience.
The first step to fixing this is to open Internet Options. (shown below using IE9. Earlier versions of IE you can go to the File menu: Tools | Internet Options.)
Click on “Security” tab, “Local Intranet” and then click “Sites”.
click “Advanced”
Now you will add the URL that will be under “Add this website to the zone:”
Now close all browsers and test: You should NOT be prompted for credentials now!
For Lync Administrators: This same issue shows up on server Lync admin console, so this is a tip for you as well. And, Maybe you want to run a workstation policy to add the Lync Web URL to Local Intranet for your users?
Requirements for this Tip: Domain Joined PC logging into Domain with same credentials as Lync
See the whole Lync User Tips Series:
http://windowspbx.blogspot.com/search/label/LyncUserTip
Credits: Exchange MVP @patrichard suggested this tip a long long time ago and I finally got around to it. For some good Powershell and Exchange content see: http://www.ehloworld.com/
You are on a phone call at your pc and you need to leave your office or head to the great outdoors? Setting this up just takes minutes.
If you do not have your mobile number defined for yourself, just click on “Options” | “Phones” and add your mobile phone number as shown below. (you might have to wait a bit till this takes affect)
Now your all set! If someone calls you and you need to walk out the door/drive down the road or just go get the mail, just click “Transfer” and then click your Mobile and the call will be transferred to your mobile device!
NOTES: At the moment I am not aware of a way to transfer the call back to the Lync Client. Also, I don’t think this tip works with Lync Phone Edition. (but if someone knows different, please correct me in comments.) This tip does NOT require the Lync Mobile client to be installed on the mobile device.
Requirements for this Tip: Enterprise Voice
See the whole Lync User Tips Series:
http://windowspbx.blogspot.com/search/label/LyncUserTip
Note: The below solution definitely falls into the experimental category. But the exercise “works” and demonstrates some interesting future possibilities. So, please, don’t harass your IT with it and remember: it’s not an Enterprise solution. So much for disclaimers, onward…
Some have expressed interest in having Voice over VoIP for mobile devices using the new Lync Mobile client. With a little work around this is actually possible.
The general concept is that we will have the Lync Server call your mobile via a VoIP call instead of through the mobile voice voice network. (thanks, Microsoft for designing Lync Mobile to do call back. Brilliant.)
After a few seconds (about 10 seconds in my case) you will see the Skype incoming call notification and you can click “Answer”.
Acknowledgements: Concept arrived at separately by @itommyclarke and myself. But he beat me to testing it.
