25th January 2011: The 16 Best HD Videoconferencing Solutions launched in 2010 (Editor's Choice) - 11. LifeSize Communicator offers 720p/30 video at 1.1Mbps on the Microsoft Lync (previously Microsoft OCS) UC platform

24 January 2011. The LifeSize® Communicator™, which enhances the capabilities of the Microsoft Lync unified communications platform, was released in July 2010.

Now, Microsoft Lync users (in June 2010 it was Microsoft OCS users) can experience interoperable visual communications in HD quality in their Microsoft environment.

Tight integration to Microsoft Lync enables high definition interoperable video calling, leveraging the OCS client and directory. LifeSize Communicator also offers interoperability between PCs and standards-based video communication systems, and supports continuous presence multiparty HD video calls.

LifeSize Communicator enriches the visual communications experience for the  Microsoft Lync end user through three key pieces of software:

- LifeSize® Communicator™ client delivers a business-class desktop video conferencing experience, in 720p HD video. Leveraging Microsoft’s presence directory and Lync 2010 client with Communicator’s standards-based video capabilities, High-Definition video calls are just a click away.
- LifeSize® Communicator™ Traversal Server is a complete firewall and NAT traversal solution that enables video calls across enterprises by securely connecting through firewalls. With SIP tunneling, the result is secure and simple-to-use.
-  LifeSize® Communicator™ Multipoint Server is a software-based multipoint control unit (MCU) that supports ad hoc multi-party HD video conference calls on demand. Tight integration with the Microsoft Lync environment ensures that impromptu, multiparty video conference calls are just a click away.

The advantages are that LifeSize Communicator enables organizations to fully realize the collaborative benefits and productivity gains of HD video calling in their unified communication environment, while delivering a high quality of experience and broad interoperability.

Key features LifeSize® Communicator™ which make it ideal for a large  deployment of video-conferencing to the desktop are:
- Clear 720p30 receive and transmit @1.1Mbps
- Works with H.264 SIP-based endpoints and infrastructure
- Single-click, continuous presence multi-party conferencing
- Software-based MCU that supports true 720p30 HD calls
- Up to 8x 720p30 or 50 widescreen VGA participants on the software MCU
- Up to 500 traversal calls on the Traversal server

With all these valuable attributes, the LifeSize® Communicator™ is certainly one of “The Best High Definition Videoconferencing Solutions of 2010.”