topic Re: Call manager & Skype for business (365) in Unified Communications Infrastructure

Call manager & Skype for business (365)

ssmalley77 — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 05:43:57 GMT

Hey everyone,

I have been through the forums and google searched with no definitive answers... we're looking to deploy Office 365 and would like S4B to integrate with Call Manager 10.5.2

initially we are only after presence updates, however click to call, and similar in the future would be the end goal.

I have recently seen an announcement from MS regarding Skype For business Cloud Connector Edition, however we would like to avoid deploying extra infrastructure if possible. It has also been suggested to look at CUCI-Lync however everything I've found for this seems to point to on prem Lync/Skype servers. Some clarity around this would be ideal. If we can do this natively without 3rd party software would be best but appreciate some extra config & infrastructure/software may be required.

Thanks

Re: Call manager & Skype for business (365)

skilambi — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 14:08:11 GMT

You can use CUCI with Office 365 since it's a client side integration and not server side.

Cisco UC Integration for Microsoft Lync 10.6.x Release Notes - Release Notes [Cisco UC Integration(TM) for Microsoft Ly…

Re: Call manager & Skype for business (365)

knelson23 — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 15:21:55 GMT

I am looking for the same information. I have a client moving to Skype for business and needs integration into Callmanager 9.1.2 and Attendant Console Adv 11.0. Microsoft has been no help - they say talk to Cisco. Cisco wants you to use IM&P - so here we are - customer - stuck in the middle. CUCI Moc is not the solution - that would require installing it on every user and making them run two clients. Anyone with experience with this - please share. Thanks.

Re: Call manager & Skype for business (365)

skilambi — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 15:41:51 GMT

Kevin

There is no solution here other than this. Either you do all Cisco or all MSFT if you truly want a one client unified solution. The closet you get to that is with CUCI LYNC(CUCI MOC is really old) but back in the day Cisco could insert themselves as a shim in the client. MSFT changed API, Cisco can't do it anymore so in essence it's like seeing Jabber running alongside Lync but you right click to call, drag and drop and with the latest release also support 64 bit mode of Office and Skype (soon to be released). So it gets you there but of course the solution drops flat on the mobile front since there is no CUCI LYNC for mobile. So you end up with Jabber in phone mode on mobile side. Hence back to my first point, if you want a converged solution pick a horse.

Finally if this wasn't office 365 there is a connector from Bridge OC that can provide phone status to Lync with Cisco which many folks need. It however does not work with Office 365 hence I didn't mention it

Re: Call manager & Skype for business (365)

knelson23 — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 15:53:08 GMT

We did pick a horse - Cisco. That is the solution they have had for years now. Problem - Jabber is a terrible solution. How Cisco went from CUPS which had many more features to Jabber - still don't understand. But seriously - the driving force for this customer is to get off Jabber. The biggest piece I need to work for them is Cisco Attendant Console Adv 11.0. I need that to be able to read Skype/Lync presence and custom status messages. Then on flip side - I need Skype/Lync to see status of Cisco phones. Sounds like I'm in trouble here - there are two business units - voice and data - data is driving the MS side so that leaves me - Voice - to make everything work. Thank you for your insight.

Re: Call manager & Skype for business (365)

skilambi — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 16:02:14 GMT

Kevin

Can you elaborate on what features you find missing? I would like to get some feedback since I often compare and contract clients from Cisco/MSFT and would like to see if you have any points I can provide my input on. I use Jabber every day and it has worked well. Sure there are deficiencies in all clients so I would be very keen on hearing your feedback.

I am not a specialist on Cisco console's but maybe check if Vistapoint can help. I don't work for them but have used them on many deployments. I have also asked them to comment on this post specific to Skype presence in their console.

Re: Call manager & Skype for business (365)

knelson23 — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 16:10:13 GMT

Vistapoint? Not familiar with them.

Biggest issue with Jabber - the inability to set a custom status and logoff. This is something CUPS allowed and Jabber has had on the roadmap for like 3 years. Screen sharing - not as easy for end users as Lync. Same goes for file sharing.

Re: Call manager & Skype for business (365)

skilambi — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 16:20:44 GMT

The web site is this http://www.iqnetsolutions.com/. There are vendors like bridge OC, Akkadian along side Cisco which is in fact OEM from Arc.

I am not following the custom status issue. I am able to see it just fine for each of my status of Available/Away/DND. Not sure on what you mean by Log off can you elaborate?

Jabber does support both WebEx and IM Only desktop share (No WebEx needed) with up to 10 folks and file sharing both P2P and Managed file transfer on Group chat and Persistent chat (which of course needs additional components.

On ease of use of course it could vary based on the user maybe some more details there on if it's more clicks or something else.

Re: Call manager & Skype for business (365)

knelson23 — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 16:26:43 GMT

Set a Custom Offline Status message - then logoff. Example: I'm on vacation this week. So while you are not logged into jabber people still see your custom message.

Screen share with Jabber - you cannot just click on screen sharing while in IM only - for Jabber you have to launch a call in order to share a screen. Same goes for file sharing.

Re: Call manager & Skype for business (365)

skilambi — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 16:33:36 GMT

Kevin

On the custom message and then logoff and still show it is a valid point. However you are incorrect on file sharing and screen sharing. Jabber since 10.X has supported IM only desktop share that does NOT need a call to be estalished(aka BFCP based sharing). That's why I mentioned above IM only desktop share. In Jabber 11 it was enhanced to support up to 10 clients on the share. You can also do remote control (you cannot annotate today)

There are some caveats over expressway but VPN or inside the network it works just fine

Also client version of 11 or 10 doesn't imply server has to be the same version. It is backwards compatible with CUCM 9 as an example

Cisco Jabber for Windows 10.5 Release Notes - Introduction [Cisco Jabber for Windows] - Cisco

Look at the section IM only screen share. There is also admin guides on it

Re: Call manager & Skype for business (365)

garymanske — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 18:06:22 GMT

Hi Kevin,

Have you looked at Bridge Communications LICC solution?

Re: Call manager & Skype for business (365)

Jim Pilgrim — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 18:14:59 GMT

I have deployed quite a few of the Bridge Solutions. Keep in mind the need for greater CTI configurations than defaults.

Re: Call manager & Skype for business (365)

knelson23 — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 18:24:50 GMT

I looked at this and contacted the company but they said their solution only works if Skype solution is onsite.

Do you know of a solution using remediation server with Cloud setup?

Thanks.

Re: Call manager & Skype for business (365)

garymanske — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 18:29:22 GMT

I haven't heard of one Kevin.

I believe Microsoft will be releasing some updates for our devs to get similar access to O365 tenants like UCMA in On Prem. If/When that happens it'll be a good day. Perhaps next week with Microsoft WPC.

Re: Call manager & Skype for business (365)

dunn1c — Thu, 23 Nov 2017 16:40:18 GMT

Has there been any new updates on this integration? We are deploying Office 365 in the cloud and I need it to integration with CUCM 11.5 and I would prefer to use only the SfB client both on the desktop side and on the iPhone side.

Any help would be most appreciated.

Re: Call manager & Skype for business (365)

skilambi — Thu, 23 Nov 2017 17:54:00 GMT

Chad

The options are

1) If you plan to do A/V/Share on SFB and UCM then you need to use

a) CMS on premise and through expressway your SFB users can join CMS space and support dual homing

b) Use CMR cloud and have your devices interwork in the cloud

c) Look at O365 and their Polycom real connect in the cloud

d) Third party vendors like Blue Jeans/Pexip

2) If all you care is audio and want capability to integrate with Cisco desk phones and want to show "On the Phone" state then CUCI Lync is still the best option. It is inluded in UCL ENH or CUWL STD, subject to the device count of the licensing

3) If you want integration between O365 and CUCM like PBX to PBX in the old days and you have SFB using enterprise voice and likewise Cisco phones, then you will need to look at Audio codes or Any node boxes for integration. Keep in mind Cisco doesn't test/support this, so it's up to you to provide support. The Audio codes or Any node will integrate with your UCM system via SIP but in essence you are supporting two phone systems, dial plan considerations, CAC issues etc. CCE (Cloud connector edition) from MSFT is not tested/supported by Cisco and no plans to do that.

4) Bridge OC Plug-in as mentioned above to show On the phone state and desk phone control https://www.bridgeoc.com/products/licc/licc.htm

Of course be prepared to start this topic all over again when MS Teams replaces SFB completely 🙂

Re: Call manager & Skype for business (365)

dunn1c — Fri, 24 Nov 2017 12:53:39 GMT

Hello Srinivasan,

Looks like CUCILYNC is our best option. We were working with a vendor that suggested using SfB for IM, Presence, and Sharing (which we already are) and Jabber (in phone only mode) for Voice and Video. I don’t want to use 2 clients so Im hoping CUCILYNC will allow us to just use the SfB client for all the collab requirements while still using CUCM as the voice and video solution.

Re: Call manager & Skype for business (365)

skilambi — Fri, 24 Nov 2017 15:47:04 GMT

Chad

To be frank while you could deploy Jabber in phone mode to be frank CUCI Lync is nothing but Jabber in phone mode running in the background with at least the capability to do right click to call vs two separate clients. Jabber in phone mode is still a valid strategy on mobile since there is no CUCI for mobile so to speak. On desktop to have two clients and not even get click to call unified seems to defeat the entire purpose of unifying communications 🙂

One reason however to do Jabber on phone mode independant of SFB is of course if the intent is to go to Jabber down the road it pushes the UI to the client, makes them use it every day and hence transitioning down the road from SFB to Jabber is easier vs CUCI where Jabber even though is the one running in the background is sort of "hidden"

Re: Call manager & Skype for business (365)

dunn1c — Fri, 24 Nov 2017 20:54:20 GMT

So If I use CUCI LYNC to so that I can make calls from the desktop SfB client, I cant do the same from the SfB for app on the iPhone?

Re: Call manager & Skype for business (365)

skilambi — Fri, 24 Nov 2017 21:39:09 GMT

Nope because there is no CUCI plugin for iOS or Android you can load. So one idea is load Jabber in Phone mode along side SFB app but of course there are 2 clients one for IM/P and another for A/V/Share. If you want to make calls from SFB client on mobile you will need to run SFB in enterprise voice mode and you just mentioned you wanted to use CUCM for voice/video and have one call control which I would also recommend.