A device using Lync for Mac 2011 with desktop sharing cannot request control or give control to another device. Cannot convert an appointment in Outlook to an online meeting To create an online meeting from Outlook, you must open a new Outlook meeting request. Microsoft Messenger and Communicator 2011 Messenger. Messenger is the home/SOHO/I-don’t-have-Microsoft-Lync/Office-Communications-Server- (OCS) IM application. Communicator, the corporate version of Messenger, is an easier sell. Since you have to be part of a. Macworld’s buying. In conclusion, Communicator for Mac 2011 is essentially a “there is a Mac client” answer for Microsoft Lync, ported from another application. It’s targeted at filling the holes where an organisation may have a team of creative/alternative users on Macs that need a client other than Lync Web App to deliver most UC workloads to.
Joining Microsoft Messenger is a new business counterpart in Office 2011 for Mac, Microsoft Communicator. Both products offer similar features and interfaces, but each is designed for a different market:
- In the Microsoft Lync for Mac 2011 Update volume window, double-click the Lync for Mac 2011 Update application to start the update process, and then follow the instructions on the screen. If the installation finishes successfully, you can remove the update installer from your hard disk.
- Microsoft Messenger 8 is included with both editions, and Microsoft Communicator for Mac 2011, which communicates with Microsoft Lync Server, is available only to volume licensing customers. Office 2011 requires an Intel Mac running Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later.
Microsoft Messenger: Uses your Windows Live ID (such as your Hotmail e-mail address) to communicate with contacts using public servers. Requires a Windows Live account to sign in.
Microsoft Communicator: Designed to use fully updated Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 or later to communicate within a closed business environment. The corporate contact list has been moved from Messenger to Communicator. Communicator supports Microsoft Exchange Global Address List (GAL).
Both Messenger and Communicator offer a variety of ways to communicate, collaborate, and share work. Logging in to either product involves a simple username and password sign-on.
Managing contacts in Microsoft Messenger and Communicator
The Contact List displays when you open Messenger or Communicator. Starting at the top, you have access to a lot of tools:
Media encoder for mac. Despite having an ultra-fast rendering speed, security, and easy configuration, Media Encoder 2020 MacOS can perfectly work on any Mac devices.By using this software, we can export any projects into videos of the quality, setting, framerate and resolution that we want. Some of those formats supported by Media Encoder 2020 MacOS include MP4, MOV, WMV and many more.
Add: Displays the Add a Contact dialog.
Send: Click the Send button and then choose a contact from the pop-up menu to open a text instant message conversation window.
Call: This feature requires speakers and microphones on both ends of the call. Communicator supports PC to phone dialing.
Video: This feature requires video camera, speaker, and microphones on both ends of the call.
Send File: Click and then choose a contact from the pop-up menu. You see a file Open sheet, which you can use to choose a file or photo to send to the selected contact.
Page: Click and then choose a contact from the pop-up menu. If you haven’t set up your mobile message preferences, the Preferences dialog opens. Normally, Page displays the Page message input window. Type a text message to be sent to your contact’s cellphone or mobile device.
Mail: Opens your Web browser to view your mail account. Displays how many unread messages you have in your inbox.
Indicating Presence in Messenger and Communicator
The Presence Indicator is a new feature of Office 2011. It has these buttons across the bottom:
Send Mail: Opens a new browser window to a new, blank, pre-addressed e-mail message window.
Send Instant Message: Opens a conversation window and requests the contact to engage in a text chat session.
Voice Call: Sends a request to establish a voice call. This feature requires speakers and microphones on both ends of the call. Communicator supports PC to Phone dialing.
Video Call: Sends a request to establish a video call. This feature requires video camera, speaker, and microphones on both ends of the call.
Schedule Meeting: Opens a new Meeting dialog in Outlook.
Open Outlook Contact: Opens the Contact in Outlook.
Add to Contact List: Adds this person to your Messenger or Communicator Contacts List.
Phone Number: In Communicator, click to initiate a telephone call.
Instant messaging with Office 2011
When you choose to send an instant message, the Message Conversation dialog opens. The dialog lets you chat using text. You can also use the following features in the Message Conversation dialog:
Microsoft Communicator For Mac 2011
Save: Saves the dialog of your chat. Messenger only.
History: Displays the Conversation History window. Messenger only.
Open Drawer: Opens the side drawer and displays Contact pictures.
Presence Indicator: Click to display the contact’s Presence Indicator.
Close Drawer: Closes the side drawer.
Input area: Type your message or drag a file into this section.
Font: Click to change characteristics of the font you send.
Reviewing conversation history in Messenger and Communicator
Microsoft Communicator For Mac
When you click the History button or press Command-O in Messenger, the Conversation History dialog appears. You get the following options:
Save as Web Page: Saves the selected conversation in HTML that can be opened in a Web browser.
Print: Prints the conversation. Vocal plugins for mac.
Delete: Deletes selected conversation.
Search: Find conversations using keyboards.
Show/Hide toolbar: Click this little button when your toolbar disappears and you want it back.
Communicator 2011 is a client specifically designed for Mac users to connect to OCS and Lync servers.
This is the most complete OCS client for non-windows platforms and has almost all features of MOC 2007 R2:
- Search Corporate address Book and manage contacts;
- Rich presence (including calendar based);
- Presence in Office for Mac applications;
- IM, Audio and video conferencing with multiple users;
- IM with public and federated networks;
- Join virtual meetings (audio+ video + content sharing);
- Share desktop (with 13.1 update);
- Send and receive files;
- Make and receive PSTN voice calls.
His predecessor was Messenger for Mac 7.0.2 which was capable of connecting to both MSN and OCS but, with this corporate version, Mac users can now collaborate with traditional Windows office pc’s.
Taking advantages of the great built-in multimedia devices of Mac PC’s, we can experience great 720p video calls (picture on the left).
Communicator 2011 has a look and fell of Lync client, but you noticed on the main window, there’s no pictures with the contact names. On a conversation window you can notice a photo pane with placeholders. The client cannot retrieve photo contacts from the Lync address book services, but this photo placeholders promise that an update will add this capability.
Check this tables to compare Communicator 2011 features and capabilities with the other Microsoft Lync Server 2010 clients.
Disclaimer: the pictures in the videoconferencing are manipulated, just to give a more real experience 🙂
Update: This review is now for OCS client, since Microsoft released on October Lync for Mac, reviewed on this post.
Comments and future posts suggestions are always welcomed.