Kordia NZ Updates to Microsoft Lync 2013 Certification

By Jayashree Adkoli TMCnet Contributor

New Zealand’s one of the advanced telecommunications services provider, Kordia, has received its Microsoft Lync 2013 certification. The company qualified its OnKor SIP Trunking PSTN solution against Lync 2013 through the Microsoft Open Interop (News - Alert) Program (OIP).

As quoted by Kordia NZ, it is the first company in New Zealand to obtain Microsoft (News - Alert) Lync 2013 certification for business SIP service, which is delivered over its fully-converged OnKor wide area network (WAN). The Lync Server 2013 gateway is built into the OnKor network, which currently provides services to corporate customers around New Zealand and Australia.

In spite of being Microsoft Lync 2010 certified earlier, Kordia NZ attained Microsoft Lync 2013 certification to help customers who want the confidence and security of having certified SIP connectivity for Microsoft Lync.

In addition, the Kordia customers using or deploying Microsoft Lync 2013 can take advantage of a variety of new features, such as conferencing features, persistent chat, and a Lync Web app that enables users to join a Lync Meeting remotely using their web browser, while still having access to HD video, Voice over IP (VoIP), instant messaging and desktop and file sharing.

Murray Goodman, manager of WAN and converged services at Kordia New Zealand, said in a statement, “Kordia’s OnKor solution enables businesses to put voice and data into one network, making it easier to manage, more reliable and boosts network performance.”

The OnKor network, which is integrated with Lync Server 2013, is a converged network solution designed for businesses, delivering voice, video and data over one smart pipe. It provides network management tools, allowing businesses to maximize their current bandwidth allocations to ensure high performance at all times.

Goodman added, “When you integrate Microsoft Lync 2013 on top of that, you no longer need to invest in separate media gateways to connect to the PSTN – this means real cost savings and total control for our customers. It also removes a lot of the uncertainty for customers when upgrading to Lync 2013, knowing that Microsoft and Kordia have already tested interoperability end-to-end.”

According to sources, products and vendors that meet Microsoft’s rigorous and extensive testing requirements and conform to Microsoft specifications receive this qualification.

Paul Dolley, solutions specialist, voice enterprise at Microsoft elucidated that Lync 2013 has gained momentum in the New Zealand marketplace with its enhanced voice, video, and mobility features, along with the ability to federate to Skype (News - Alert) Users.

Dolley said, “It’s great to see a New Zealand company such as Kordia become one of the first service providers globally, and the first in New Zealand to qualify their OnKor SIP Trunking PSTN solution against Lync 2013 through the Microsoft Open Interop Program (OIP).

Dolley added, “This gives customers peace of mind that the OnKor SIP Trunking service has been independently qualified to meet and pass all the requirements of Lync 2013 Interoperability program for SIP Trunking Providers.”

Edited by Ashley Caputo