Governments, companies and institutions can save huge monies from travels to attend and facilitating conferences by embracing Microsoft Lync – which can make every engagement a virtual face-to-face meeting.
With Lync any interaction can now include video and audio conferencing, instant messaging and telephony, said Louis Otieno, General Manager Microsoft, East and South Africa during Microsoft open door day, adding: This software works with applications people know and use today, including Microsoft Office, Sharepoint and Microsoft Outlook which helps organizations reduce adaptation hurdles, because employees are already familiar with these software tools.
One of the companies with more than 5,000 workers that is harnessing the software has saved $ 18.6 million over a 3 year period, says Hardeep Sound, Regional Solutions Sales Manager at Microsoft, East and South Africa. “The brand new Microsoft Lync 2010 provides a single platform that integrates audio, video and instant messaging.”
Forrester Research estimates that customers can expect a 33.7 percent return on investment in Lync in just 12 months based on reductions in the cost of a private branch exchange (PBX) telephone systems, IT labor, calls to the IT help desk, as well as travel.
By deploying Lync IT departments will empower their workforce to communicate and collaborate more efficiently, and stay connected to others on a wide range of devices no matter where they are located. “Customers using Lync 2010 are already changing the way they communicate, and are transforming their business while saving money; yes, with the ensuring business intelligence – decisions can be made faster,” says Sound.
“Lync's voice capabilities can be used as an alternative to desk phones as it can be built on top of the company's infrastructure - giving more flexibility to communicate and collaborate with the right person, at the right time from familiar applications, whether at the office, at home, or on the road, added Edwin Kiiru, Line of Business Manager – Microsoft Solutions at Dimension East Africa.
The University of Nairobi, School of Engineering, Fabrication Laboratory – an innovation and entrepreneurship venture with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is running its incubation programme through video conferencing where Kenyan students school with colleagues and professors from across the world. The professors from MIT and other top ranking universities teaches the students as they find their ways into their laboratories – sharing notes and projects they are working on.
“For over 18 years we have worked with over 20,000 commercial partners across Africa delivering a vast array of software products, services and solutions,” Otieno says. “However in Kenya this is the the first time we have invited local technology professionals and enthusiasts to share our approach to the next generation of computing backed by an industry -leading annual investment of $ 9.5 billion in research and development spanning the PC, mobile and web.”
With the access of smart phone and laptops to majority of Kenyan – the 'cloud' ties Lync 2010, Windows 7, Windows Live Essentials 2011 and Office 2010 represents the most affordable computing experience yet for Microsoft customers, the GM says.
Windows 7 offers an opportunity for parents, guardians and teachers what their children and students can access through the Internet, TV programmes and other on-line media content, says Kevin Connolly, Windows Business Group Manager Microsoft West, East and Central Africa, and with its a antivirus protection, protects customers computers from malicious software.
'Open Door' is one of the 14 Microsoft experiential technology showcases taking place in Africa in 2010-2011, reaching 6,000 people across 12 countries including Algeria, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Libya, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Tunisia and South Africa.
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