Microsoft Lync Online rides coattails of Office 365 adoption

The audience of small and medium-sized businesses that might deploy Microsoft Lync Server 2010 on-premises is limited, but partners report accelerating interest in the cloud edition, Lync Online.
Microsoft Lync Server is a unified communications platform that combines instant messaging, videoconferencing, email and collaboration technologies. Lync Online can be purchased either on its own or bundled with Microsoft Office 365.
At InfinIT Consulting, a managed services provider in San Jose, Calif., close to 85% of Lync customers opt to combine Lync Online with Office 365, replacing insecure communications platforms such as Skype or more pricey offerings such as Citrix GoToMeeting or Cisco WebEx, said Jerod Powell, CEO and founder.
"Lync is a slam dunk argument for most people," he said. "It can save some companies thousands of dollars."


Microsoft Lync Online rides coattails of Office 365 adoption