Software Plugins

Some organizations are providing video interoperability to Lync through the use of a software plugin on the desktop clients. These plugins effectively replace the capability to make Lync video calls using Lync, and instead are a shim for placing the call through the plugin, but still presented on the user’s desktop as if the user made a Lync call. Examples of this include Cisco’s CUCILYNC plugin and Avaya’s Aura product. The pitch with these products is generally along the lines of selling the organization on managing the video in a single system the business has already invested heavily in. The disadvantage is that these products typically require additional licensing, limit the great features within Lync, and result in a really poor, and confusing, end-user experience.