Conquest Technology Services

ConQuest named on CRN Top 250 List-20114

August 11, 2014 Leave a comment

ConQuest named on CRN Top 250 List-2014 for solutions providers focused on emerging tech. Way to go ConQuest!!

Explore the Microsoft Cloud

August 11, 2014 Leave a comment

“The cloud” is one of those trendy tech terms a lot of people use but can’t clearly define. The first thing you should understand about the cloud is that it is not a physical thing. The cloud is a network of servers, and each server has a different function. Some servers use computing power to run applications or “deliver a service.”

You’re probably using the cloud today and don’t even realize it. For instance, when you take a picture on your smartphone, it is stored on your phone’s internal memory drive. However, when you upload the photos to Instagram, you are uploading it to the cloud.

Cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a utility (think of it as an electricity grid) over a network (typically the Internet). Clouds can be classified as public, private or hybrid. We’ll review that in a separate Blog post.

Most of our customers’ decisions to “move to the cloud” is financially motivated. Companies used to have to buy their own hardware equipment, the value of which depreciated over time. But now with the cloud, companies only have to pay for what they use.

Here at ConQuest Technology Services we’re solely focused on core Microsoft® communication technologies. As a multi-award winning preferred Microsoft Partner we have strong competencies with deep knowledge and expertise in such technologies as Microsoft Office 365™ cloud services, Microsoft Windows Azure™, Microsoft Exchange, and the powerful new unified communications suite Microsoft Lync®.

Considering we’re helping our customers unleash their potential with Microsoft solutions, let’s explore some of the top four reasons Microsoft cloud makes sense for your business.

Insights

Transform data into action. No matter how much business and customer data you need to wrangle, the Microsoft Cloud can handle it. Power BI for Office 365 scours data to uncover meaningful business insights that fuel innovation. And with Microsoft Dynamics CRM, a unified customer view helps create better customer experiences.

Productivity

Unleash your workforce. With Office 365, the Microsoft Cloud helps our customers collaborate from virtually anywhere, at any time, using software everybody already knows, protected by enterprise-grade security. So no matter where business takes your people, they get things done faster and more efficiently.

Social

Listen, adapt and grow. The Microsoft Cloud helps companies like yours make the most of the conversations between employees and customers.

Social tools like Yammer® and Lync make it easy for employees to connect, share ideas, and build teams. Office 365 breaks down barriers between departments, enabling collaboration from virtually anywhere. And Microsoft Dynamics CRM helps companies give customers a better, more responsive experience.

Platform

Hybrid cloud flexibility. You’re only as agile as your platform. The Microsoft Cloud, with Microsoft Azure, Windows Server, and Microsoft System Center, offers a platform that can span your on-premises datacenter and the cloud. So you’re free to scale up, scale down, and innovate at the speed you need.

I wanted to share with you a few videos that will highlight how companies are benefitting from Microsoft Cloud. I’m hoping that they will give you insights and help you make an informed decision when (not if) but when you move your business to the cloud:

Respawn Entertainment uses the Microsoft Cloud to deliver Titanfall, a next generation gaming experience

http://www.microsoft.com/enterprise/microsoftcloud/default.aspx#fbid=_rKHcYZM9hB

Lotus F1 Team uses the Microsoft Cloud to make the calls that make the difference.

http://www.microsoft.com/enterprise/microsoftcloud/default.aspx#fbid=_rKHcYZM9hB

The City of Barcelona uses the Microsoft Cloud to turn chaos into clockwork. http://www.microsoft.com/enterprise/microsoftcloud/default.aspx#fbid=_rKHcYZM9hB

We will run your communications system in our cloud so you don’t have to buy hardware and software for it, set it up, maintain it, upgrade it, or train your people to manage it. We focus on keeping you constantly connected so that you don’t have to……not to mention save you potentially thousands and depending on the size of your business millions.

Contact us http://www.conquest247.com/contact or 305-374-8788 so we can explore your options. We can help you reduce spend on travel, telecommunications and more. Improve productivity by leveraging communication tools. Use your mobile devices or tablet to collaborate on the go. We totally understand communication tools are critically important but they probably aren’t the focus of your business. You clearly have other pressing matters to address to sustain and grow your business. That’s where Conquest comes in to partner with you.

Debbie Brandt

ConQuest Technology Services

Marketing Manager

dbrandt@conquest247.com

August 11, 2014

Filed under Articles of Interest

At a Microsoft store near you — Great p

July 24, 2014 Leave a comment

At a Microsoft store near you — Great prices on tablets – Big savings: http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/cat/categoryID.67576700?Icid=Homepage_Header_Tab4_Sale_122113

Filed under Miscellaneous

Microsoft’s Lync Rising as PBX Choice Replacement

July 23, 2014 Leave a comment

The Microsoft® Lync® communications platform is making large gains as the IP PBX favorite, particularly among larger businesses.

Many businesses are taking advantage that their corporate PBX can be entirely replaced by a Microsoft Lync installation. Lync has been augmented with functions that enable many enterprise voice features.

Microsoft Lync puts people at the center of communications, connecting in new ways, across the PC, phone and browser. By bringing together presence information, IM, enterprise voice and conferencing facilities, Microsoft Lync delivers a powerful user experience that helps increase productivity by creating efficiency within the working day.

Lync can replace traditional PBX solutions for easier management, lower costs, smoother deployment and greater flexibility.

As part of the Lync integrated communications platform, Enterprise Voice is a robust, enterprise-class Voice over IP (VoIP) solution.

Some of the key functionality included with Lync Enterprise Voice:

Call Forwarding – Call forwarding settings give flexibility not found in traditional PBX systems. Enterprise Voice users can control exactly what actions occur when an incoming phone call is received, such as ringing for a specified amount of time before being forwarded to an alternative number or to voice mail.
Delegation – Users are able to define delegates to answer calls on their behalf.
Response Groups – Response Groups manage and direct inbound callers to agents.
Call Park – Answer a call at one endpoint and then put the user on hold, or “park” the call temporarily. The user can then pick up that same call at another location or endpoint.
Private Lines – Have a private telephone number hidden from address lists and contacts in addition to the primary telephone number, which is published to users. This additional line can be configured to ring with a different sound to differentiate calls to the private line from the regular number.
E911 – Enhanced 911 features are provided in Enterprise Voice so users can dial 911 and have that call connected to an emergency routing service.
Remote Access– One of the strongest advantages of Lync Server is that it offers users a completely seamless and consistent user experience regardless of location. Users who travel and use a hotel’s public Wi-Fi have access to the exact same features as users in an office that use the corporate network. This consistent experience is provided without a VPN connection or manual client configuration changes by the user, which allows all features to work from any location.

To make Lync highly effective certain key elements must be provided by outside vendors. With additional equipment and system configuration, full PBX functionality, including connection to the outside telephone network is possible.

There are distinct advantages to using the corporate Lync/Exchange infrastructure to act as a PBX. I’ve listed a few here:

Supports mobility – A Lync PBX system supports a single number to reach workers at their desk and on their phone device. They can also use this same single number when dialing out from their mobile phone.

Use existing expertise in the IT department – For an organization that already has Microsoft-based infrastructure, the incremental training to operate Lync is favorable compared to the exorbitant training required for PBX maintenance and upkeep.

Most cost effective – rather than paying the hefty cost to forklift a dedicated PBX system onto the premises, existing infrastructure is leveraged to achieve the same results. Although some Microsoft software licenses may need to be upgraded (for example, the UM version of Exchange is required when using Lync as a PBX replacement), this is typically less expensive than purchasing and deploying an entirely new IP-PBX/PBX solution.

Lync can be configured to support remote workers – Lync already provides presence indication, and helps bring remote workers closer to their colleagues through online collaboration tools such as IM, screen sharing and file transfer. The addition of voice allows them to bring their desk extension to their home office.

ConQuest Technology Services, a multi-award winning Microsoft Gold-Managed Partner is a premier provider of Lync solutions. Call today so we can discuss your communication needs and propel your business to work smarter, leaner, more cost effectively while dramatically enhancing collaboration through-in and out of your organization.

Debbie Brandt

Marketing Manager

ConQuest Technology Services

dbrandt@conquest247.com

July 23, 2014

Filed under Benefits of Lync