snom announced its executive business phone, the snom 821, has been tested and approved by Microsoft Corp. for interoperability with Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2, and is being further tested for use with Microsoft Lync 2010.This recognition represents the second snom desktop phone to be qualified through the Compatible Devices Program.

The snom 821 and previously qualified snom 300 will be on display in the snom (Booth # 637) at the upcoming Enterprise Connect Conference and Expo in Orlando, FL, February 28 March 3. The snom 821 OCS edition will also be on display at CeBIT, March 1 5 in Hanover, Germany (Hall 13, Stand C42) and from March 8-9 at UCEXPO in London, United Kingdom (Booth 717).

The snom 821 is the most popular model of the snom 8xx series of desktop phones, and is the first snom phone qualified with an extended feature support for Microsoft OCS 2007 R2 including an interoperable presence, contact list, corporate directory search capabilities and device lock capabilities.

We have always been keenly focused on interoperability in all our products, so achieving qualification of the snom 821 with Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 marks the next step of closer interoperability with Microsoft environments, adding new functionality to the snom OCS edition firmware, said Dr. Michael Knieling, executive vice president of marketing and sales, snom technology. The snom 821 is our most popular executive-class phone and with a full color display and HD audio codecs, it is a great phone to take advantage of all the benefits of a Microsoft OCS 2007 R2 environment.

The snom 821 features a high-resolution TFT color display capable of displaying presence, supports speed dialing of client contacts, and hosts a gigabit-Ethernet switch. Capable of supporting up to twelve accounts, the snom821 is the only phone in the market that can concurrently operate in a mixed environment of Microsoft OCS R2 and SIP on a single phone, offering maximum flexibility to the end customer.

This qualification with Microsoft as part of its Compatible Device Program is a great reference point for resellers and distributors who need an advanced, business-class desktop phone that is tested with Microsoft OCS 2007 R2, explained Mike Storella, COO of snom technology. The snom 821s functionality - featuring gigabit speed and color display - provides critical processing power and a dashboard display interface that makes it an ideal desktop phone for enterprises deploying unified communications applications such as Microsoft OCS 2007 R2 and soon Microsoft Lync.

Microsoft is pleased to have snom join the rapidly growing set of companies delivering hardware and software products that are compatible with Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 and soon Lync 2010,said Bill Verthein, director of product engineering, Microsoft Lync. Our customers benefit from the innovation, choice and value that only a truly open approach can provide.