Genesys Adds Key Telephony Capabilities to Microsoft Office Communications Server (OCS), With GETS Software for Remote Call Control and Presence-Based Call Management

  • With Genesys Enterprise Telephony Server (GETS), Microsoft Office Communicator users combine collaboration with TDM and IP Telephony without changing infrastructure

WOKINGHAM, Oct. 16, 2007 - Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories, an Alcatel-Lucent company (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) today announced that Genesys Enterprise Telephony Server (GETS) will allow users of Microsoft Office Communications Server (OCS) '07 to leverage telephony-enabled presence and control, in combination with new or existing telephony systems, to deliver advanced services without replacing their infrastructure. GETS provides sophisticated call control and telephony-enabled presence capabilities for enterprises using OCS '07, no matter what generation their underlying telephony infrastructure may be.

The announcement comes in conjunction with Microsoft's first shipments of OCS and is part of the companies' ongoing efforts to make it easier for enterprises to link the phone and the PC without taking a "rip and replace" approach to their existing infrastructure. GETS software is an add-on to OCS that allows users to route calls to and from any contact using both IP soft phones and traditional telephony equipment. GETS is the only telephony solution that supports over 100 industry standard switches and can be deployed in multi-site, heterogeneous environments with interoperability across 25 TDM and IP-PBX platform vendors. As a result, any enterprise can quickly add next generation collaboration technology to its communications infrastructure.

Microsoft Office Communications Server with Genesys GETS gives enterprises the ability to telephony-enable information workers via a cost-effective, small footprint application that offers an immediate return on investment. GETS can reduce phone bills, cut the cost of conference calls by up to 25 per cent, and extend the life of existing PBX equipment. 

GETS can also reduce the amount of time it takes to centrally provision users across PBXs and OCS because it provides a common interface where an administrator can provision users in Microsoft Active Directory and components of the Genesys environment. When an extension is opened for an employee, GETS user-provisioning can quickly tie that extension into the Microsoft environment through active directory regardless of where the employee’s extension resides. 

As part of OCS, the Genesys GETS software adds or enhances several key features of Microsoft Office Communicator and Office Communications Server, including:

  • Ability to detect "In a call" presence status regardless of what generation PBX users are connected to
  • Smart transfer-dynamically deflect incoming calls to any telephony device
  • Telephony integration with Microsoft SmartTags allows users to dial contacts by clicking their name in any Microsoft Office Application
  • Highlight and call any 10-digit telephone number appearing in Internet Explorer, Outlook, Word, Excel, Communicator and Firefox 
  • Multi-line control and selection
  • Telephony controls, including ad-hoc conference calls

"Microsoft is a key Genesys partner, and the combination of OCS and GETS allows us to continue extending our reach beyond the contact centre, while also adding value and unique capabilities for Microsoft Office Communicator users," said Paul Lang, vice president of Product Management at Genesys.

A production tested version of GETS that supports OCS is available for immediate delivery. Implementations of the GETS software have scaled up to 50,000 seats, and Microsoft itself has already deployed GETS across 40,000 desktops at its facility in Redmond, Wash.
 
About Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories, Inc.
Genesys, an Alcatel-Lucent company, is the only company that focuses 100 per cent on software to manage customer interactions over the phone, Web and in e-mail. The Genesys software suite dynamically connects customers with the right resources - self-service or assisted-service - to fulfill customer requests, optimise customer care goals and efficiently use resources. Genesys software directs more than 100 million customer interactions every day for 4,000 companies and government agencies in 80 countries. These companies and agencies can leverage their entire organisation, from the contact centre to the back office, to improve the overall customer experience. As a result, Genesys helps stop customer frustration, drive efficiency and accelerate business innovation. For more information, go to www.genesyslab.com or visit the industry blog at www.betterinteractions.com.
   
About Alcatel-Lucent
Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) provides solutions that enable service providers, enterprises and governments worldwide, to deliver voice, data and video communication services to end-users. As a leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP technologies, applications and services, Alcatel-Lucent offers the end-to-end solutions that enable compelling communications services for people at home, at work and on the move. With operations in more than 130 countries, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with global reach. The company has the most experienced global services team in the industry, and one of the largest research, technology and innovation organisations in the telecommunications industry. Alcatel-Lucent achieved adjusted proforma revenues of Euro 18.3 billion in 2006 and is incorporated in France, with executive offices located in Paris. [All figures exclude impact of activities transferred to Thales]. For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on the Internet: www.alcatel-lucent.com.

Media Contact:
Duncan Burford, PR for Genesys, 01780 721433, dburford@iba-europe.com

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