Chapter 22. Microsoft Communicator Client for Macintosh

Although Lync Server 2010 is an impressive application by itself, most users will experience Lync Server 2010 only through one of its many clients. Microsoft has gone out of its way to provide clients for most of the larger platforms. Microsoft Communicator is the Mac-based client that enables users to access the client-side functionality of Lync Server 2010. This includes the following functions:

• Instant messaging

• Presence

• PC-to-PC calls

• Enterprise Voice functions

• Video conferencing

• Web conferencing

• Desktop and sharing

As such, this chapter covers the more commonly used functions of the Microsoft Communicator client and should act as the basis of end-user training that most administrators want to provide to their user community to ensure successful adoption of Lync Server 2010.

One feature that most users appreciate when using the Microsoft Communicator client for Macintosh is that Microsoft has placed all the functionality into a single client. In older versions of Office Communications Server (OCS), there were multiple clients for performing IM, web conferences, group chat, or acting as a software-based phone. Microsoft Communicator combines all these features into a single client to make it even more seamless for users to participate in multiple types of collaborative communications.

It’s important to point out that the Microsoft Communicator client isn’t the same as the Microsoft Messenger client that installs as part of Office 2011. Microsoft Messenger can’t connect to Lync and is meant for the pubic IM services provided by Microsoft. Microsoft Communicator is an add-on to Office 2011 that allows for connectivity to Lync 2010 and offers the additional integration into Office 2011 applications.