Presence is a collection of information about a contact in SfB that includes availability,
willingness to communicate, as well as location and status information. Presence information
is gathered based on Exchange Calendar entries or phone status, and can also be manually
set by the user. Knowing the presence of a user allows you to utilize the most efficient
method of communication, thus improving productivity.
Instant Messaging (IM) allows users to send messages to each other in real-time, rather than routing quick,
short questions through traditional email. Used in conjunction with Presence, you
can quickly get answers to questions when the recipient might be unavailable by phone.
Enterprise Voice allows traditional call handling through the SfB client, including call answer, call
forward, transfer, and hold, using a broad range of both IP and USB endpoint devices.
With SfB, your university phone number has the ability to move with you, and can be
accessed from a desktop, laptop, or mobile device.
Conferencing within SfB includes audio, video, and web conferencing. SfB provides a familiar user
experience to those that are accustomed to traditional audio bridge services, including
dial-in services and touch-tone call control commands, but with the benefit of one-click
scheduling within Microsoft Outlook. Expanding upon the audio component, SfB also
enables users to share programs or their entire desktop to conference attendees, as
well as peer-to-peer or multiparty video conferencing.
