How to integrate Skype for Business with Cisco Telepresence

Back in 2006, Cisco systems developed a range of products widely termed as skype for business cisco telepresence. The primary aim of these products was to simulate the experience of a conference room irrespective of location. Hence, the two rooms may be physically further apart by a few meters or many miles for that matter. Initially, Cisco offered various options combining variations of 2 people or even 6 along with a multipoint collaborative network. The current range of products increases in terms of deliverability and infrastructure. Thus, skype to cisco telepresence accompanies all the smarter features.

Skype for Business is an online platform developed by Skype technologies back in 2003. This platform allows users to collaborate with one another overseas. It happens via video calling for the purposes of secure business transactions. Its integration with various Microsoft Office Suite applications makes it quite user-friendly for multiple people to come together. So, they can use a single piece of work. There are procedures available to integrate Skype for Business Cisco Telepresence.

Exploring the Usabilities of Skype for Business Cisco Telepresence

Usually, for sharing content, there are two possibilities:

·        When Skype shares content for a Business client, it is enclosed in Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) and an Expressway device transmits. This Expressway, in turn, converts the packets to a Binary Floor Control Protocol (BFCP) stream. Cisco then uses the packets for content sharing by channeling the BFCP packets to the endpoints during any session.

·        On the other hand, when content Cisco endpoint shares content, in the presence of Skype for Business users, the content is converted into a video stream. This video log is sent via the Expressway. It does a conversion of the video protocol, to the Microsoft Skype for Business clients. There are certain troughs and crests to this method:

Pros

1. This form of development is fairly simple to implement. The real intention here is to let Jabbar clients and Skype do business together. So using skype for business cisco telepresence would become popular.

2. If you are planning for integration Skype for Business users, you only need to have the standard Client Access license. No further licenses or permissions are required. In this way, skype for business cisco telepresence would come out as a beneficial option.

Cons

1. There is a loss in quality of content being shared across the platforms as the Skype for business clients are sharing data to a Cisco endpoint and vice versa.

2. Although this solution is flexible in nature, basic video conferencing between the two parties directly may be somehow difficult.

Alternatively, Cisco has introduced a CUCILync plug-in. This gives the ability to place calls through the Cisco voice infrastructure using the "Place a Call" option. You can find this in the Skype for Business client menu. In this scenario, the Skype for Business client provides an interface for initiating the call rather than acting as a visual or audio endpoint.

Pros

1. Users have the option to directly initiate calls to Skype for Business clients or even PSTN.

2. The interface used by Skype for business clients reflects the presence of a Cisco phone.

3. This procedure saves the current existing voice infrastructure of Cisco in order to place calls.

4.  Again, only a standard Client Access license exploring the utilities of skype for business cisco telepresence.

Cons

1. The major bottleneck here is that this plugin only works on the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows operating system. Hence, Skype for Business clients who are making use of Linux systems, mobile operation systems or Mac operating systems are restricted. They won’t be able to take the specific benefit. This is a big reason for organizations not openly accepting the integration of the CUClLync plugin.

2. Although the plugin is free, this client requires license and registration from Cisco in order to use skype for business cisco telepresence.

Apart from these two widely used procedures, Cisco has also introduced a plugin. It allows Skype for Business users an option to start a “WebEx Meeting”. This is a part of the collective WebEx Creativity tools. Upon clicking this button, it generates a unique URL. Various users belonging to backgrounds such as Skype for Business or Jabber clients can click on this link. It then opens a fresh tab in the user’s default browser. Via this arrangement, users can share voice, data and even video packets.

Pros

1. It offers quick and easy integration between Skype for Business clients and Cisco Telepresence users.

2. Also, it provides desired ad hoc escalation capabilities, such as to the ability to launch a richer collaboration from within an IM session.

3. The application works with the free, three-person version of WebEx (as well as the paid version).

4. It only requires Skype for Business Standard CAL.

Cons

1.    Skype for Business users do not use the native, ad hoc Skype for Business collaboration tools that allow mixed-mode conferencing.

Presently, users of skype for business cisco telepresence have the option now to join a Cisco video conferencing system via an integration server.  Cisco brings in this feature in order to expand business with the excellent opportunities. Cisco Meeting Server is the system used to manage the communication protocol differences between the Microsoft’s software and Cisco's TelePresence systems. This was only possible after Cisco acquired Acano technologies. In this way, life would become easier and you can easily communicate with the Skype contacts.