Registering Cisco IP-Phones to Lync 2013 Enterprise Voice

Hello,

We already have Lync 2013 setup for IM,presence, and Conferencing.

We are willing to extend the Lync functionality to cover the firm Enterprise Voice (VoIP).

We already have Cisco IP-Phones like ( 7911,6921).

How can we protect our investment in these IP-Desk phones and let them auto-Register with the Lync2013-Enterprise Voice server role WITHOU the need for a Cisco Unified Call Manager ?

thanks,

August 18th, 2014 6:54am

Cisco IP phones won't register directly with Lync 2013. Take a look at Audiocodes SPS product: 

http://www.audiocodes.com/products/sip-phone-support  Sonus had SmartSIP but I think it's EOL.

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August 18th, 2014 2:39pm

I've also heard of Kinnex, but haven't tried it: http://www.kinnex.net/
August 18th, 2014 10:02pm

hello michael,

you are right that Cisco IP Phones will not register directly to Lync 2013 and we need a kind of gateway/SBC to allow this to happen.

the main question here:

is that a well known practically working solution that can protect our investment and allow our Cisco IP Phones to register directly with Lync Enterprise Voice ?

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August 19th, 2014 6:42am

hello anthony,

thanks for your reply,

i would be more than happy if we can have a trial version of such a software-based SBC/gateway.

will have a look as Kinnex and let you know

August 19th, 2014 6:43am

From the download link: "Kinnex Media Gateway trial version has full functionality, has no time limit, and is completely free. Up to five users can connect to the Lync Server in the trial version."

Which sounds cool.  Again, I've never used it but it seems to be reasonably priced vs. other products too.  I should probably get it up in a lab.

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August 19th, 2014 1:06pm

From the download link: "Kinnex Media Gateway trial version has full functionality, has no time limit, and is completely free. Up to five users can connect to the Lync Server in the trial version."

Which sounds cool.  Again, I've never used it but it seems to be reasonably priced vs. other products too.  I should probably get it up in

August 20th, 2014 7:10am

That's unfortunate, hopefully they'll rush on that. 
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August 20th, 2014 2:06pm

hello all,

regarding the above opened thread. I was able to register the Cisco 79xx/69xx phones to Kinnex Media Gateway and login using my Lync credentials. The phones should be converted from SCCP to SIP firmware and then be registered to the Kinnex Media Gateway server. The Kinnex Media Gateway then communicates with Lync front end pools.

more details: http://www.kinnex.net

  • Marked as answer by Pedros- Tuesday, October 28, 2014 6:53 AM
October 28th, 2014 6:53am

hello all,

regarding the above opened thread. I was able to register the Cisco 79xx/69xx phones to Kinnex Media Gateway and login using my Lync credentials. The phones should be converted from SCCP to SIP firmware and then be registered to the Kinnex Media Gateway server. The Kinnex Media Gateway then communicates with Lync front end pools.

more details: http://www.kinnex.net

  • Marked as answer by Pedros- Tuesday, October 28, 2014 6:53 AM
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October 28th, 2014 6:53am

hello all,

regarding the above opened thread. I was able to register the Cisco 79xx/69xx phones to Kinnex Media Gateway and login using my Lync credentials. The phones should be converted from SCCP to SIP firmware and then be registered to the Kinnex Media Gateway server. The Kinnex Media Gateway then communicates with Lync front end pools.

more details: http://www.kinnex.net

  • Marked as answer by Pedros- Tuesday, October 28, 2014 6:53 AM
October 28th, 2014 6:53am

Thanks Pedros, 

Did you end up deploying that in a large environment? I'm looking to transition to Lync/Skype for Business Enterprise Voice, and I'd like a long-term solution to use my Cisco IP phones to connect to Lync. Unfortunately, the Polycom phones just aren't that great and also I have a huge investment in Cisco IP Phonesets.  

I'm curious how that Kinnex solution is working for you, and how far down the line you've made it with any significant volume of Cisco handsets registering to Lync through that gateway. 

Thanks in advance,

Chris

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March 20th, 2015 4:47am

hello chris,

unfortunately, the Kinnex Media gateway didnt work the way we wanted it to be.

we wanted to register all our 1000+ Cisco IP Deskphones to Lync thru this software-based media gateway. but we faced many issues:

  • cisco phones unregistering suddenly
  • unplanned voice quality degradation
  • we didnt try the software on a large scale, only 5 cisco phones were converted from SCCP to SIP firmware.

we have the same case as yours. we wanted to go UC allt he way including Voice with Lync. but as you said, Lync hardware phones are limited in models: only 3 Lync-optimized Polycom/HP phones: HP4120 , Polycom CX600,..

I dont know why Microsoft is not investing in providing a variety of desk phone models.

March 23rd, 2015 5:07am

There are a few Lync optimized phones, but I wouldn't limit myself to those by any stretch, check out the Lync qualified phones, you can get some at great prices such as the AudioCodes HD420 and Polycom VVX300.  The one I use the most these days is a VVX500. Snom makes some great ones too.

Microsoft is leaving it to the vendors to provide a variety of desk phone models and there are TONS. 

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March 23rd, 2015 4:09pm

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