Level 3 provides advanced voice services and network infrastructure to support Microsoft Lync reference architecture

BROOMFIELD, USA: Level 3 Communications Inc. announced that its global portfolio of Session Initiated Protocol (SIP) Trunking solutions and infrastructure will be the underpinnings of a Microsoft Lync network environment that allows hosted voice providers to offer Unified Communications (UC) applications to their customers.

Microsoft Lync Server 2010 Multitenant Pack for Partner Hosting is a unified communications hosting solution for telecom and hosting providers. It enables service providers to add an economical unified communications service offering to their existing services, and allows them to tailor the service to meet the unique needs of their customers, as well as to differentiate their offerings.

The Microsoft Lync Reference Architecture Project is a group of leading hardware, software and communications service providers that have developed an extensively scaled implementation of Microsoft Lync Server 2010.

Level 3 is the Microsoft project's SIP Trunking and infrastructure provider, bringing a number of capabilities to the hosted UC ecosystem, including Short Messaging Services (SMS) messages; local voice services covering more than 86 percent of the US; E911 in North America; local telephone numbers in 27 countries and long distance calling to more than 200 countries; the ability to enable hosted Lync providers in 27 countries; and 200 data center facilities in the US, Europe and Latin America.

"This offering enables service providers to leverage Level 3's highly scalable network and experience with unified communications, particularly with Lync, to grow their end-user business," said Anthony Christie, CMO at Level 3. "We're making it easier for our service provider customers to provide a streamlined unified communications experience to their customer base, and Level 3's expertise will help them implement Lync projects on time and within budget."

The Lync-hosted ecosystem integrates Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft Outlook, telephony, and other communication technologies.

"Level 3's broad local coverage, extensive telecommunications portfolio and longstanding IP telephony experience contribute immeasurably to the Microsoft Lync Reference Architecture Project," said Warren Barkley, GM for Lync, Microsoft. "Using its extensive experience enabling SIP-based hosted offerings, Level 3 is building a strong foundation for our Lync offering and helping Microsoft Lync Server 2010 enable a new generation of hosted unified communications users. Level 3 is a trusted network partner for hosters worldwide who want to create their own hosted Microsoft Lync service and help enterprise customers transform their legacy voice network environment."

The Level 3 Voice service portfolio offers interconnection and termination options delivered over Level 3's extensive and reliable voice network. With one of the world's largest next-generation networks, Level 3 has the operational control to ensure end-to-end quality management of voice traffic in 27 countries.