Lync Product Line Overview

The Lync client is part of a reorganized real-time communications product line. Shown here are major communications products and hosted services as of the Feb. 2009 release of Communications Server 2007 R2, and the new Lync-branded line that replaces them.

Lync Server 2010, like its predecessor Communications Server 2007 R2, maintains users’ presence information and enables two-way or multiway communications sessions, including instant messaging (IM), voice, video, and application sharing. It also supports Web conferences—structured online meetings that typically include a synchronized PowerPoint presentation and an audio feed to attendees and can include other features, such as chat sessions (for question and answer) and application sharing.

A Microsoft-hosted subscription service called Lync Online will be part of the Office 365 suite and will deliver many of the capabilities of Lync Server. Due in mid-2011, Lync Online will replace two existing services: Communications Online, which enables presence, multiway IM, and two-way sessions of other types, and Live Meeting, which provides Web conferences.