AT&T Now Offers Microsoft Lync

By Robbie Pleasant TMCnet Contributor

AT&T has been improving and expanding its relationship with Microsoft (News - Alert), particularly in regard to Microsoft Lync. Not only has AT&T added Lync to its UC portfolio of collaboration solutions, but it’s also combining Lync with its global IP network, providing businesses with a complete UC solution.

AT&T’s (News - Alert) customers will now have access to Lync through AT&T, gaining a complete UC solution designed for excellent performance, reliability and security. They can also use a variety of devices, thanks to Lync’s ability to share voice and video across most major operating platforms, which is particularly useful in a BYOD environment.

With Lync as a part of AT&T’s UC portfolio, its business customers will have access from anywhere at any time to all the capabilities Lync provides. This includes the ability to collaborate in real-time, participate in HD video conferences and virtual meetings, and so much more. They can run Lync on an on-premises data center, as a part of the Microsoft Office 365 service from AT&T, or have it hosted by AT&T directly.

Furthermore, AT&T’s Application Programming Interface (API) will soon be opened to users of the Lync platform. This will allow developers to design and create custom applications to improve their own work and that of others.

"Lync has continued its rapid growth with customers, contributing to 11 straight quarters of double-digit growth," says Derek Burney, Corporate VP for Lync. "This expanded relationship with AT&T underscores the growing role Lync has in the unified communications landscape and is an opportunity for both of our companies to continue to deliver businesses the tools they need to collaborate."

This provides a great boost to AT&T’s suite of voice communication and collaboration services. With it, customers can have access to new and improved tools for communication and collaboration across multiple devices, which is always great in a telecommuting, personal device using environment.

Edited by Rachel Ramsey