Free Addon Add's Dynamics GP Click-To-Dial Functionality With Most IP Phone Systems

I am a communication enthusiast (I have a blog and wrote a book on Windows phone systems) and also Dynamics GP partner so at Landis Computer we have merged this expertise to enhance your Dynamics GP! We are very shortly releasing our free Dynamics GP Productivity Pack addon for GP and it will now include the ability to click on a phone number  and have your favorite softphone dial the number!

I was a bit surprised to see that Dynamics GP 2010 didn't include this feature considering the great new Communicator integration into GP 2010--but we will solve this little bump in the road by providing a free GP addon that will add this for. Hey, the addon actually does quite a little list of other cool things (click here to see the other features)

We will be releasing the new addon in the next few days. To get on the list to be notified when we release the GP click-to-dial Click Here. (you will also get a link to the current version of the addon.)

To See the New PDF Brochure (including click-to-dial functionality) Click Here.
To Sign Up to Get the New Addon Click Here.

Windows Phone System Book I Co-Authored Released! Join the Authors on Tues Mar 2, 2010 at 2PM EST for a Live "Virtual" Event!

The 3CX Phone System Tutorial Book is released and you can order your copy today:
http://www.packtpub.com/the-3cx-ip-pbx-tutorial

You can also read excerpt here: http://www.packtpub.com/article/call-control-using-3cx

We would also like to invite you to Join the Authors on Tues Mar 2, 2010 at 2PM EST for a Live "Virtual" Signing Online Event! The agenda will be live streaming with input allowed from the audience. We will entertain questions and have a good time.

The Authors will talk about:
-How Do You Do a "Virtual" Book Signing?
-What are your thots on writing a book after this 3CX book?
-What is the most interesting communication client you've worked with?
-What do you see in the future of windows communication solutions?
-What are some Inside the Industry (windows communications) rumblings & rumors?
-We Will Take YOUR live questions about 3CX and Windows Communications In General.

Give Aways:

-Three "3CX IP PBX Tutorial" Books will be given to attendees Read More
-1 snom m3 SIP, Dect Portable phone with base station Read More
-1 snom 300 SIP Phone with OCS Edition firmware available Read More
-Varios snom gear (mixed bag)

We will try to wrap up by 3PM EST.
Register for event here:
http://www.landiscomputer.com/offer/1101_form_3cxbook.htm

Join the event on Mar 2 by clicking on the below link:
http://windowspbx.blogspot.com/2009/12/windowspbxblogspotcom-events.html

Thanks for your interest!

Windows Mobile 6.1 As an Extension to Your IP PBX

I just registered my Windows Mobile 6.1 phone to our SIP based IP PBX for the first time. I'm impressed how nicely the built-in WM6.1 SIP phone integrates into the device when you actually configure it!



To configure the SIP info into your WM phone, you need a windows mobile SIP setup application running on the phone. (Note:this is NOT supported by Microsoft...do it at your own risk!)

Below is the link to the .CAB file to modify your phone:
http://www.voipphreak.ca/2008/03/29/enable-the-hidden-voip-features-of-windows-mobile-6x-for-free-voip-calls-using-asterisk/

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=303493

If you have any question please post a comment below.

Will Windows Phone Kill iPhone?

Microsoft plans to refresh the Windows Phone with version 6.5 which will include some big updates to how Windows mobile works. Some things that are planned are gesture navigation and scrolling, ability to preview a voicemail as text when combined with Exchange 2010 and a browsing experience redesigned for touch gesturing.



For those of you familiar with the Zune, you might notice some similarity in navigation on the home screen below.



An excellent video comparing iPhone and WM6.5:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP9PQ5iWFzM&feature=rec-HM-r2

I'm looking forward to Windows Mobile 6.5.

windows iphone killer, windows mobile kill iphone

My snom MeetingPoint Conference Phone Video Review

I just got a chance to play with the new snom MeetingPoint conference phone and here is a link to the first impression video review I did.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veHhBdKvAq8

I couple things that make this unit unique are that it is the first Microsoft OCS compatible conference that is also a standard SIP phone and it also uses the standard snom firmware so if you are used to that, this phone will be comfortable for you.

ps-I just noticed it has power over ethernet so no cable tangle either. Nice.

Streamlining Small Business Communications Using Free Windows Instant Message Server

I've written a previous article about using Windows Live Messenger as a poor mans Office Communication Server. In the mean time our Instant Message requirements keep growing. Some of the things we wanted to do:

-Connect multiple Public Instant Message services into one client
-Have a tool to connect our website and blog to us via web live chat
-More central control over our internal Instant Message system
-Have a more business oriented IM Client (Tired of Live Messenger MSN pop ups!)
-Archive IM chats
-Persistent Group Chats
-All this functionality combined into one IM client.
-Oh, we want to be able to change when we are not inside our network too.

Our first thought was Microsoft Office Communication Server 2007. After reviewing OCS my thot was that it was a bit "heavy" hardware requirements and configuration wise. I talked to another Microsoft Partner who tried OCS and moved to Openfire. So we took a look at Openfire. I was amazed at the features, ease of installation and low hardware requirements. It seems to be a perfect fit for small business. It runs very nicely on Windows Server and is a breeze to administrate.

We achieved all of our objectives above along with some interesting benefits I didn't expect:
-Tabbed IM client really make heavyIM users screen less cluttered!
-The "Close Stale Chats Tabs" really saves time too.
-the IM client has ability to integrate to SIP IP PBX's

So far what did I notice that we don't have that OCS would?
-Pocket PC IM client with tight integration to IM Server
-OCS voice features on Pocket PC
-Any integrations to Dynamics products (like GP) that OCS will have.

Openfire IM Server is a free product and seems like it could fit us quite well at this time. We are still watching if Microsoft will release SBS OCS!

Microsoft Response Point Future: RP Program Manager Say "There are no current plans for future version releases of Response Point..."

At a Microsoft Response Point town hall meeting today, RP program manager John Frederickson says "There are no current plans for future version releases of Response Point, but MS will continue to evaluate specific feature requests and continue to maintain the product...We are not prepared to commit to a next version release today..." Later on John said, "RP is in maintenance mode..."

To questions about the future of RP John said "RP is funded for FY2010...RP will be evaluated for ROI from year to year like all Microsoft products..."

John also noted the Response Point does have a budget for marketing activities for FY2010.

From my experience with how Microsoft handled the discontinuation of the Microsoft Small Business Financials product, current RP developements sound eerily similar. The first step was putting the product in a "holding pattern". One difference that I can see is that there appears to be a much more active partner community. (Could Harry Brelsford have anything to do with that? ;-)

My opinion remains that if you are a good VAR (or Trusted Advisor), work with Microsoft resources and you have the possibility of emerging stronger than before.

You might have interest in my previous post that talks a little about RP Var Survival.
My Research on Windows Based Phone System Compared to Response Point.

Windows based Phone System PBXnSIP v4 Overhauls User Interface

PBXnSIP, Windows based phonesystem, has released version 4 beta. It's hard to miss the newly refresh user interface that now includes context sensitive help. PBXnSIP has many legacy pbx features, is use by ISP's and managed service providers and from our experience is very stable.

My Quick Slideshow of PBXnSIP v4 Beta:
http://picasaweb.google.com/mattmlandis/PbxnsipV4Beta#slideshow/5346433834075244306
Below is an illustration of the new UI.

From pbxnsip v4 Beta

Microsoft Response Point: What Is Happening?

Microsoft Response Point is a small business phone system that I have been keeping my eye on for a little bit. I passed over it because of lack of features but because of it's Microsoft backing it's hard to ignore. Just a couple weeks ago at the SMBNation conference several active VARs (Ed Carnes and others) gave a pretty good Keynote on RP and peaked my interest again...

But the GM of ResponsePoint, John Frederiksen, made an announcement that jolted RP VARs about "changes in the RP business..." in a "coded" statement. What has been deduced by VARs closer to the subject then myself is that large reductions to the RP team were made.

There are a lot of rumors around and I don't want to feed them. I do want to say that if there is change in the air it doesn't need to be bad. At Landis Computer we survived having one of our primary Microsoft products, Microsoft Small Business Financials, being phased out in favor of a more costly product, Dynamics GP. We had a large amount of our business around SBF and approximately 40 clients using it so you can imagine our anxiety. But we worked with Microsoft through this process and emerged stronger and thriving more than before. Just some comments from my experience going through a product "change":

• If you are good at RP you will survive in some other product if need be
• The guys with the least installs will make the most noise
• Don't yell: be reasonable and work with microsoft contacts--they can help
• Have your own strategy too
• Don't beat up John Frederiksen at the town hall meeting...collaborate... ;-)
• Town Hall likely means big change or bad news but not end of world. ;-)
• Usually Microsoft put considerable research into a market move (more than we can afford!)
• Remember that the best solution may be a new one

In our case we emerged from the Microsoft Small Business Financials "change" in a much better position. I believe we are a stronger partner, with better connections to Microsoft, and using more resources from Microsoft. We are a solid, growing Microsoft GOLD Certified parnter as well as a Dymamics GP partner now.

I think I will attend the meeting just to see how things go. For all RP'ers, I wish the best!

ResponsePoint General Manager John Frederiksen twitter:
http://twitter.com/responsepoint

Links About RP Developements:
http://www.crn.com/networking/217500245;jsessionid=UVU4QY3KMP1MQQSNDLOSKHSCJUNN2JVN
http://www.thevarguy.com/2009/05/14/microsoft-response-point-unplugged/
http://ts2blogs.com/blogs/sdeming/archive/2009/05/14/what-s-going-on-with-response-point.aspx
http://telephonation.com/forum?func=view&catid=20&id=1769

Exchange Server 2010 Amazing Telephony Features

Microsoft sure is pumping out the new products: Office, Windows 7 and now Exchange 2010. The feature that really impressed me is the Voicemail Preview feature that appears to convert audio voicemails into readable emails! (it will even SMS the first part of it to your mobile!)

To read the official Microsoft site on this feature (and more) click below:
http://www.microsoft.com/exchange/2010/en/us/unified-messaging.aspx

To quote the section about Voicemail Preview:
"Voice Mail Preview: Exchange Server 2010 will facilitate the cumbersome task of navigating through voice messages. With Exchange Server 2010 speech-to-text translation, the user can read the contents of the audio recording in the same fashion they would read an e-mail. Furthermore, if the resulting voice messages are opened using Microsoft Office Outlook 2010, the text of the voice mail preview will become "actionable". Recognized names, contacts, and phone numbers will all be identified with icons that the user can select to add contacts, call using Office Communicator, or send e-mail. To facilitate navigation of the audio, clicking in the text will cause the voice mail to jump to that word and continue playing."

There had been several companies (simulscribe was one) doing this as a service for approximately $30/month and $.25 over a certain amount of voicemails and this just might be hard on their business plan. I now see that google plans to offer voicemail to email too. click here. Hmm.

What to Look for in a Windows-based IP PBX

There is quite a bit of interest in Windows based IP PBX systems lately. For a company that sells, implements and provides ongoing support for Windows based IP PBX's this is great! But are all windows pbx's created equal? What should I look for?

Rock Solid Operation
Businesses have come to expect a phonesystem to be up and troublefree nearly 100% of the time. If a software pbx needs reboots when relatively small changes are made or to correct day to day issues this will cause CEOs and users quite a bit of frustration. Does the pbx require manual watching to make sure it is still up? Or does it have a good system to proactively alert the admin to urgent issues? Can the system admin put new pbx features & components to use with confidence the will work solidly? Without spending a lot of time debugging and fiddling?

Features Comparable to Legacy System Being Replaced
If there are a lot of features that are missing when moving to a software IP PBX I goes without saying that the move will be painful. No one wants to move to a new system and loose features they had with their "20 year old" system! What are some commonly "missing" features when moving to a software IP PBX?

-Ability to see which phone lines are in use
-Ability to put a phone line on hold and tell a colleage to pick it up by pressing its button
-Ability for the PBX to integrate to standard call accounting software
-Ability for the system to go into night mode and have a light to indicate this
-A simple call parking system

Features That Let An Organization Go Beyond Legacy Features
Typically when a company moves to a new system they want to keep at least on par with what they had before. But a good Windows based IP PBX should also let them grow into the future in features, capabilities and integration. What are some of these items?

-Instant message server capabilities
-(or ability to integrate to a server like Microsoft's OCS or free open source options)
-Presence Indication (ability to see who all is on the phone or away)
-Ability to integrate to Exchange UM to integrate email and voice
(or at the least voicemail to email capabilities
-Some type of call control application for reception call control
-Ability to automatically make mobile phones a part of the phone system
(ring when deskphone called, easily forward someone to a deskphones corresponding mobile phone)
-more...

Low Ongoing Maintenance (from IT perspective)
Most people expect a phone system to keep on running with very little intervention. Does the software IP PBX just run? Or does it require a lot of service pack and fixes to keep it up and running? How often do new "fix" releases come out? While a lot of new fix releases shows the companies dedication to the product it can be time consuming for the IT person taking care of the system.

These are just some ideas and I'm sure there are more.
If you have more ideas I'd love to hear them. Please post below.

Think a HowTo Book About 3CX Would Be Good?

A publisher has approached another 3CX MVP and I to see if we would have interest in a writing a book about 3CX. Do you think having a "How To" book about 3CX would be good? Please comment what you think.

OCS (Office Communication Server) Small Business Edition?

I've been attending the Microsoft Convergence 2009 Conference this past week. The conference is focused on Microsoft's Dynamics business software but there were some Office and Server sessions. I sat in 2 sessions about OCS 2007 R2 just for diversion and because of my interest in OCS and got to ask the question: "Considering the many servers involved in a typical OCS implementation, Will Microsoft release a OCS small business edition?" The answer: "Based on MVP and other input we are definitely talking internally at Microsoft about the possibility of an OCS small business option."

He also noted that currently it is "possible" to have a single server implementation of OCS and noted some of the missing features that make OCS "not quite fitted" as a complete pbx replacement at this moment.

Software GiveAways With High Value

Microsoft Sharepoint: Make Your Company Policies & Processes as Easy to Find as Google.Ever spend an hour hashing how a certain process in your company should be handled? You debated the very best way to do it and everyone in the meeting "knew" what the process was and then a week later you get a call "Hey, how did we decide to do that?". And even YOU were foggy? Microsoft Sharepoint can solve this problem and guess what? If you have a Windows Server already you receive a free Sharepoint license. Installing it is not a long process and you can start to benefit in mere hours.

Office Accounting 2009 Express: Accounting Software for Very Small Businesses.
I am adamant that small businesses need to "know their numbers" just like bigger businesses. Microsoft has announced that is it giving Microsoft Office Accounting 2009 Express away for free and I think this means no small business should be without good accounting software. This accounting system is based on SQL and is defintely worth a lot more than free.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/accountingexpress/FX101729681033.aspx

Windows Instant Message Server: Increased Productivity Without External IM Interruptions
You are on the phone with a customer and just need a quick "yes or no" from one of your co-workers. What if you could just quickly pop a quick message to them as you talk? At one time this was a $500-$2000 solution...now available at no cost.

There are two solutions. If you want just free IM you can use Openfire available at the below link. This server combined with the SparQ IM client could easily be an OCS replacement in SMB senarios where IM is all you want. It sets up in as little as an hour.
http://www.igniterealtime.org/projects/spark/index.jsp

If you would like to get a FREE IM server that can grow up to be a incredibly powerful business phone system (phone system not free, but very affordable) take a look at PBXNSIP. This phone system is impressive for the simple office to offices with lots of phones and complex needs. Once again, can be setup in a short time. Use Xlite as the IM client.
http://pbxnsip.com/

If you want consulting related to any of these products, you can pop an email to sales@landiscomputer.com.

Dynamics GP Call Assistant: The Benefits of Standards Based IP Phone System & Accounting System

I've been spending a lot of time helping people with and promoting standards based business IP phone systems. This week I'm heading to Microsoft's Convergence 2009 in New Orleans (microsoft's erp/business management software solutions conference) so I thot I'd highlight an integration we've done and will be providing to the Dynamics community.

We support roughly 75 Dynamics clients around the country. We also provide Windows based Phone Systems to our clients. We thought we would combine our expertise in both to make a powerful integration that shows off the power of open phone systems and the open Dynamics GP product.

What if you could see all the important information about a client as your phone rings and before you even talk to them? (without doing anything!) Who they are? Do they have overdue invoices? Are they a big client? (YTD sales) The screen shot above is just a starter...things like opening the last sales order could easily be added. Or anything custom you need for your company.

Not a Bank Breaker:

We are using a free, standards based softphone along with the Dynamics GP Call Assistant to create a very low cost solution. ($500/approx)

FAST Implementation:

Installing this solution if you are using a standards based IP PBX is about 5 minutes.

What are the Requirements?

Dynamics GP or Microsoft Small Business Financials and a standards based SIP IP PBX that supports call forking. Some examples of specific IP PBX's are:

Grandstream GXE502x

PBXnSIP Communication Server or PBXnSIP Office
3CX IP PBX

Any other IP PBX that supports SIP and call forking.

(Asterisk does not support call forking)

Where Can I Get It?

At this moment we don't have a "boxed" product but we will get you the details if you email us at sales@landiscomputer.com. Figure an approx. cost of $500 plus time to help you get setup.

dynamics GP CTI, great plains call pop, dynamics call pop, dynamics gp phone integration, microsoft great plains phone integration

Coincidence? PBXnSIP & 3CX Release Call Monitor/Control Apps on the Same Day.

Two major Windows based IP PBX vendors have released their versions of call monitor and control tools on the same day. 3CX just released their 3CX Call Assistant and PBXnSIP announced their pbxnsip Attendent Console today.

Good Screen Shots of PBXnSIP's PAC:
http://wiki.pbxnsip.com/index.php/PAC_V3

See my first impression video of 3CX's Call Assistant: (excuse my bad, quiet voice)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKeGdXtCMaY

PBXnSIP has an interesting feature: built in Instant Message client included in their PAC which is quite compelling. The other PAC features seem more geared to a user. Feature for feature 3CX packs in more features and seems to aim at the receptionist desk with bigger display area and more indication and control.

SNOM 870 Touchscreen & SNOM MeetingPoint Pictures Now Available

Jan Boguslawski, of http://www.itacs.de/, just forwarded me some pictures of the SNOM 870 and SNOM MeetingPoint. Check out the below pdf link to see the pictures:

http://landiscomputer.com/page/SNOM870_MEETINGPOINT_OCS.pdf

It looks like SNOM is partnering with Konftel (it appears Konftel is providing the hardware, SNOM is using it's firmware--that is just a guess)

http://www.konftel.se/default.asp?id=6401

ps-I did get an update from SNOM usa sales that the meetingpoint unit will run $899 USD retail. pss- new update: Snom's office page on MeetingPoint
http://www.snom.com/en/products/snom-meetingpoint/

snom meetingpoint pictures, snom 870 pictures

Wikipedia: Office Communication Server Article

I've spent quite a bit of time working on & cleaning up this wikipedia article (one of my hobbies) and thot you might have interest in reading it. It came up when I was searching for OCS compatible phones and thought I could make a link to it from here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Office_Communications_Server

New At Snom: Touch Screen & Conference Phones

I'm a fan of snom phones for a while and just had to post this. Just got an email announcing CeBit and stating that snom is releasing the snom 870 which will be touch screen. This same series has a port so it can become a wifi deskphone which is something I've been looking for for a while already. (870 & wifi module not out yet)

I haven't gotten a snom 820 in our office yet but I did get to play with one at the Miami IT Expo. Very nicely made phone (like all the snom 3xx series). It is not after the "key system" replacement market like the snom 3xx. It's firmware is based on the 3xx series from what I can see, with more modern looking, swoopy UI graphics. If you can find your way around a snom 3xx firmware, your at home in the 8xx series. I connected it to our IP PBX in a minute. I has a very nice, large color display. It supports displaying a color photo of the caller (if your IP PBX supports it) which makes for a nice demo. The snom 8xx series is also natively OCS (Office Communication Server) compatible, the first open SIP phone to be.

Also they stated they are releasing the snom MeetingPoint SIP conference phone too. We have been researching conferencing phones and may hold off to take a look at this one. Snom rarely dissappoints us.

So if your looking for phones for your favorite Windows IP PBX, here are some more to consider.

Snom 870 Link:
http://voip.biz-news.com/news/tags/en_US/snom%20870
http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2009/01/26/3939258.htm

Just found photos of the SNOM 870:
http://forum.pbxnsip.com/index.php?showtopic=2180&hl=

Newer post with more info on MeetingPoint: Who makes it, etc.:
http://dynamicssmallbusiness.blogspot.com/2009/02/snom-870-touchscreen-snom-meetingpoint.html

ocs phone

OCS and 3CX: Do They Integrate?

This post is in response questions & google searches I get on whether the 3CX IP PBX and OCS 2007 R2 integrate. I'll answer the question in two pieces: #1-Does 3CX support integration? and #2-Can it be done.

#1-Does 3CX Support OCS 2007 R2 Integration? The answer is no, according to 3CX support. 3CX comments as of Nov 2008 are that it doesn't work and there are no plans to make it work since the products are essentially competing products. 3CX noted that it would make most sense to decide between either 3CX or OCS. 3CX does plan to add messaging features sometime in 2009.

#2- Can it be done? I've read posts here and there of people making it work and with OCS r2 SIP trunking it likely can be done but I have not personally tried it. And if it's not supported it would be easy to get in a corner. Can it be done? Likely. Should I? Probably not.

I need to admit I can see some companies may want a full featured phone system and full featured instant messaging server. I did a bit of research and did find a company, http://www.pbxnsip.com/, that makes a PC/Windows IP PBX that does integrate to OCS. They have a wiki page detailing the steps at:

http://wiki.pbxnsip.com/index.php/Office_Communications_Server

I haven't tried the integration but I discussed the integration briefly with the VAR that wrote the wiki page and he said the integration works very good. He said they did it for Microsoft for a show and it worked so well they now use it in house.

I certainly do believe that Microsoft OCS has the black box and software based IP PBX squarely in their sights so I can see why 3CX feels uninclined to court OCS. On the other side 3CX is based on being open and interoperable.

3cx ocs 2007 R2 pbxnsip