Lync Web App

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The aim of this post is to clarify certain points regarding Lync Web App

  1. Lync Web app is not a Role in Lync
  2. Lync Web app is not a replacement of CWA of OCS 2007 R2
  3. Lync Web App can be used by employees who have Lync 2010 account, but do not have a Lync 2010 client installed on their machines, like those working from home on a PC or a Mac. Lync Web App also enables external partners, such as salespeople, who are invited to Lync 2010 meetings but do not have Lync 2010 account to join meetings as guest.
  4. Lync Web App provides most of the Lync 2010 features in a meeting; including viewing and presenting PowerPoint slides, meeting wide IM, telephone based audio, file distribution and application and desktop sharing.
  5. Lync Web App cannot be used to schedule meetings or exchange instant messages with individual meeting attendees, but allows sharing group messages with all participants in a meeting.

Instant Messaging is provided through the integration of Outlook Web App ( Exchange 2010) with Lync. Meeting Schedule is provided through the add-ons in Outlook.

 

Deploying Lync Web App

Microsoft Lync Web App communications software is an Internet Information Services (IIS) web client that installs with Microsoft Lync Server 2010 and is enabled by default. No additional steps are necessary to either enable Lync Web App on the server or deploy the web client to users. When users click a meeting URL, they are presented with the meeting join page, which provides the option to join the meeting by using Lync Web App.

Your main consideration during client deployment is whether to install the following software prerequisites for Lync Web App in advance or to allow users to install them as needed:

  • The Microsoft Silverlight 4.0 browser plug-in is required for Lync Web App. You can deploy Silverlight 4.0 to client computers, or you can allow users to be prompted for installation when they first start Lync Web App.
  • The sharing feature in Lync Web App requires a Microsoft ActiveX control. The first time users initiate a sharing session, they will be prompted to download the required ActiveX control.

Check Supported platforms for Lync Web App to see if you or a colleague can use Lync Web App.