Mar 31, 2009 09:45 ET
Lenovo ThinkPad Laptops First to Receive Optimized for Microsoft Office Communicator Qualification
ThinkPad X301, T400 and T500 Laptops Designed for Unified
Communications/VoIP
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. --(Business Wire)-- Mar 31, 2009
Lenovo today announced that it is the first PC maker to offer laptops
that are Optimized for Microsoft Office Communicator 2007. As a
certified partner in the Microsoft Partner Program, this qualification
means that the Lenovo ThinkPad X301, T400 and T500 laptop PCs meet
Microsoft’s stringent requirements for high quality audio and video,
giving users an excellent unified communications experience, while also
lowering the total cost of ownership for a Voice over Internet Protocol
(VoIP) environment.
Unified communications refers to the convergence of multimedia including
voice, video and data over a common Internet Protocol (IP)
infrastructure. Customers can communicate through voice and video
conference calls, email/calendaring and instant messaging in real-time,
irrespective of the communication device. The network requirements for
VoIP, call set up and call quality management are important functions to
build upon for customers who want to expand the capabilities of their
network. To help customers maximize their networks, Lenovo has extended
unified communications capabilities to several ThinkPad laptops. With
the market for unified communications continuing to grow, many companies
are seeing the benefits including increased productivity, greater
efficiency and reduced travel and communication costs.
“Unified Communications is advancing the way our customers communicate
today and as the first PC maker to have our VoIP technology qualified by
Microsoft, we are already delivering these capabilities to our
customers," said Sam Dusi, vice president, Worldwide ThinkPad Product
Marketing. “We are providing our customers with enhanced microphones,
enhanced speakers, and an enhanced user interface, and bringing them one
step closer to our ultimate goal of making unified communications
through our ThinkPad laptops as easy to use as a phone.”
Designing PC Technology for Communications
Lenovo has designed many of its ThinkPad laptops with leading
technologies and usability features to give business users a leading
communications experience. Lenovo includes stereo speakers for a fuller,
richer experience with 10 band equalization and dynamic range
compression for a more balanced sound, optimized speaker and microphone
placement and added in Audio Director functionality, which adds up to a
fuller and richer sound and allows users to switch between headphones
and speakers easily without changing settings. For an excellent video
experience, Lenovo designed the laptops with optimized cameras, digital
zoom and improved image quality.
“By optimizing laptops for Microsoft Office Communicator, Lenovo is
helping businesses streamline their Microsoft Office Communicator
deployments,” said, Eric Swift, senior director, Microsoft Unified
Communications Group, Microsoft. “Customers can now deploy a cost
effective, single device for their communications needs using Lenovo’s
PC technology to help ensure a high quality audio and video experience.”
Unified Communications Enhancing Productivity
Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 works hand-in-hand with the hardware
devices, such as PCs and smartphones, to locate and then engage
individuals in the ongoing business needs of their organizations
wherever their location. With costly travel dollars at a premium,
unified communications also helps reduce the need for travel through
audio and live web video conferencing. Microsoft Office Communicator
2007 provides streamlined communications, operational flexibility and
control and an extendable communications platform. Additionally, unified
communications solutions can help reduce carbon emissions, a growing
concern in many companies’ corporate social responsibility practices.
About Lenovo
Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is dedicated to building exceptionally
engineered personal computers. Lenovo’s business model is built on
innovation, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction as well as
a focus on investment in emerging markets. Formed by Lenovo Group’s
acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the company
develops, manufactures and markets reliable, high-quality, secure and
easy-to-use technology products and services worldwide. Lenovo has major
research centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen,
China; and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information see www.lenovo.com.
Lenovo
Kristy Fair, 919-257-6329
krisfair@lenovo.com