Jon-Moore.co.uk

For the last couple of weeks I’ve been trying to implement Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R1 in work. The initial install went well and I rolled out the client software to the IT department with not too much trouble at all, the problems were with the integration with our phone system – A Mitel 3300 ICP with 5340 IP phones and Live Business Gateway.

Over the next few weeks or so I’ll post some screen shots and instructions on what Ive done so far and keep you up to date with what I’m doing and how I’m getting on.

I’m excited about all of the functionality that OCS will bring to our offices, so far I’ve got the enhanced presence working so the clients report us as being ‘on a call’ when ever we answer of desk phone and we’re able to dial with the client software too. I’m having a little trouble with ending calls, the software has a tendency to miss the end of the call – that is, I hang up manually by putting down the receiver and my computer keeps my status as ‘in a call’ and continues to count up the call time.

That’s a bit of a snag and I’ll get it sorted out later, the thing that I really want to get working next is the Microsoft exchange integration. Ever since I went to the Microsoft EVO roadshow with my friend Will when we were both working for PriceMaurice, I’ve wanted to have my emails read to me by the exchange server when I call it from my mobile.

Unfortunately it seems that to enable a user for Unified communications you need an enterprise exchange CAL, so I’m going to have to see if I can get hold of a few of those for development purposes.

To recap;

I’ve got enhanced presence working along with click to dial, next I want voice email and voicemail working and call forwarding to work.

In other news, my last post had a clip from Les Miserables, which at the time may have seemed quite random. Well the reason for this was my last trip to London, Sarah and I dropped in for a night just to grab some dinner and see a show or two; this time it was Wicked on the Friday night (what else!) followed by the matinee of Les Mis the next day. The Mis was amaaazing. We bought £20 each tickets from the box office about an hour before the show, then went to the Costa across the road whilst we were waiting.

Our seats were really, very good. They were classed as “slightly restriced” just due to the fact that they were so close to the stage, but really I don’t think they could have been better, the actors were sooo close, sometimes it was quite scary when they were shouting.

Wicked was great as expected, although I was slightly disappointed that Kerry Elis wasn’t playing the lead of Elphaba, the understudy was brilliant though which made it matter less.

I’ll get the pictures from the weekend up in the gallery once I’ve got it fixed… which brings me onto my next subject – the website redesign, those of you who frequent these pages may have noticed a slight change, I’d had my old layout for about 3 years and really wanted something a bit different so I’m trying this out for now. I’m not totally convinced this is how it’s going to stay but I like it so far. Anyways, that’s your lot for now – if you haven’t already then check out the video from my last post.

See you soon,

Jon