Chapter 20. Video Integration with Third-Party Products and Services

Microsoft Lync Server has been capable of integrating with third-party video systems for some time now, but the coexistence story has been murky, with a multitude of vendors and different forms of integrations available, each with its own set of caveats or restrictions. The interoperability has also been hampered by Microsoft’s use of a proprietary codec, RTVideo, for any kind of high-quality video.

Starting with Lync 2013, Microsoft has moved to using the industry-standard H.264 codec, which will likely improve the integrations available. This does not mean that all H.264 equipment is suddenly compatible with Lync, because there are still differences in the signaling layers and profiles used within the codec. In fact, as of this writing, no third-party integrations qualified or supported with Lync 2013.

This change will allow Lync endpoints and the third-party endpoints to negotiate HD resolutions up to 1080p, which will certainly improve the desktop user experience, and open many new possibilities in conference rooms, but those integrations are not available yet. This chapter focuses on how third-party video conferencing was integrated in Lync Server 2010 and should serve as a foundation for those looking to integrate in Lync Server 2013. Many of the concepts and methods described in this chapter are still relevant, although the codec, video quality, and features available in each case might change slightly.