Link SMS makes it easy for users to compose and send SMS text messages—right from within Microsoft Lync 2010.

Many mobile workers rely heavily on Short Message Service (SMS) text messaging, but their in-office counterparts find that composing and sending SMS text messages from mobile phones is not as convenient and productive as using a PC keyboard. With Link SMS from BluePosition, users of Microsoft Lync 2010 can send SMS text messages directly from within Lync 2010 with the same look and feel as constructing an instant message.

This case study is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY.
Document published October 2010


Business Needs

SMS text messaging is just another way of communicating, and in general as immediateas instant messaging. Because a growing number of employees are mobile users and rely heavily on their mobile phone/handset for communication with their coworkers, SMS text messaging has become as vital as instant messaging or email.

However, composing SMS text messages for sending to mobile coworkers, using the limited keypad or keyboard of the mobile phone/handset, is not as convenient and productive as using the keyboard of aPC.

Because SMS is a business-critical communications option for the mobile workforce, it is only natural and logical that users would like to see SMS text messaging as a communications choice in the Microsoft Lync 2010 client.

Solution

Link SMS makes it possible forLync 2010 users to compose and send SMS text messages right from within their business messaging client.

Link SMS is an add-on/plug-in to Lync 2010 packaged as a MSI file for easy distribution and installation. The solution offersthe same look and feel asinstant messagingin Lync 2010, therefore users familiar with the Lync 2010 interface will quickly get up to speed.

Link SMS integrates with the Lync 2010 address book so users can easily find mobile phone numbers associated with names. Users can also send SMS text messages to contacts not present in the Lync 2010 address bookby entering the number directly.

The solution uses selected mobile network operators’ web service interfaces for sending SMS text messages and supports via gateways broadly available interfaces such as OneAPI, SMPP, UCP/EMI, CIMD2,andothers.

Benefits

Link SMS for Microsoft Lync 2010 offers the following benefits:

  • Users can construct and send SMS text messages the same way they send instant messages.
  • SMS text messaging makes it possible for users to communicate with mobile users who have mobile phones/handsets that don’t have instant messaging capabilities.
  • As within Lync 2010, contacts can easily be added or deleted from the conversation.
  • If the message is too long, Link SMS can send multiple consecutive SMS text messages to one or more recipients (group SMS).
  • Link SMS can send a copy of the SMS text message to the sender’s own mobile phone/handset.
  • Link SMS sends SMS text messages with the user/sender’s own mobile phone number, thus allowing messages to be sent without signature and conversations tocontinue when the sender has only a mobile phone/handset available.
  • A cable or Bluetooth connection between the PCand mobile phone is not required.

This case study is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY.
Document published October 2010