Editor’s Note: Keep talking

Communication is the key to success, and with unified communications and collaboration platforms, it just keeps getting easier and more efficient.

Lafe Low

Talk is no longer cheap. In fact, it’s of immeasurable value. Talking, sharing, generating ideas, and communicating—that’s what drives collaboration, innovation and productivity. Communication is a critical ingredient of business.

Not only is talk no longer cheap, it’s becoming much more efficient. Unified communications platforms such as Lync Server facilitate and bring together any and all forms of communication to make it easier than ever to stay in touch and work with colleagues across different departments, time zones and continents. Lync Server supports communication features like enterprise voice, instant messaging, presence, content sharing and conferencing.

Communication is only truly happening and truly generating impact if both sides are on board. It’s a lively two-way street. If you’re considering Lync Server as the unified communications platform for your enterprise, check out Brien Posey’s “Link in with Microsoft Lync.” He runs through a handful of best practices to help you get the most out of Lync Server, from getting everyone on board to investing in quality hardware and ensuring sufficient bandwidth. With something like Lync Server, the means by which to get the most out of it are both technical and procedural, in equal measure.

The fact that Lync Server integrates seamlessly with so many other tools and Microsoft technologies makes it that much more robust. Lync Server connects you and your colleagues whether you’re using a desktop system, tablet or smartphone. The Lync client also integrates with Office 2013, Outlook and your virtual desktop infrastructure through plug-ins and various other tools. In can truly be the communications tool that ties your productivity solutions together.

Talk, talk, talk

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Lafe Low is the editor in chief of TechNet Magazine*. A veteran technology journalist, he’s also the former executive editor of 1105 Media’s* Redmond magazine.