Professional Development Sessions at NEARMUG 2008

NEARMUG 2008 is pleased to offer TWO Professional Development Sessions on Sunday March 16 and TWO Sessions on Wednesday March 19, 2008!  Professional Development Sessions are more in-depth sessions dedicated to providing attendees with greater knowledge about the session topics.  Professional Development Sessions are FREE to all Full Conference Attendees, so take advantage of the extra training and take part in a PD Session!

Here are the NEARMUG 2008 Professional Development Sessions !!!!

Sunday March 16 1:00 - 5:00

CallPilot Application Builder---What's So Different Than Meridian Mail presented by Denise Conroy, Prizm Light  (B, I)

This seminar will describe the differences and similarities between Meridian Mail applications and menus, and show you how they are created in CallPilot Application Builder!

We’ll share tips and techniques about Application Builder, such as:

  • creating a NEW application,
  • modifying existing applications,
  • defining and naming blocks and their properties,
  • connecting blocks,
  • determining call flow,
  • creating voice items,
  • using Voice Item Maintenance (VIM),
  • printing the application, and
  • placing the 'completed' application into service

What you really need to know is why is “pink” so bad!

This seminar was held last year and is a great refresher for those who attended or for new attendees. A few new slides including how call routing actually works (who is in charge of the call?) will be covered. You'll also learn how to set up a DN in the PBX (dummy ACDQ or phantom DNs) to route callers to the proper application. If time permits, we'll also discuss a few new screens regarding basic administration.

This seminar features a 'live' connection to an active CallPilot system allowing us to create and update actual applications. As we create an application, we will be interacting with the live system so you will be able to see and hear the results!

Nortel's Signaling Server For Dummies presented by Brian Steller, Black Box Services  (B, I)

Whether you plan on moving to Nortel VoIP in the near future or you have it today, join us for this session on configuring the Nortel Signaling Server.  You'll learn what components you need to make VoIP work on the Signaling Server as well as the components you need in your PBX.  For those of you in the Global Knowledge VoIP Course, this session is a perfect start to your conference!

While this session won't give you all of the tools to become a certified VoIP expert, you will see the fundamentals of the Signaling Server and how it interfaces with the CS 1000.   We'll cover:

  • Convergence
    • Is my Data Network ready for VoIP
    • QoS vs. Bandwidth - Why?
    • Net Check - What is it?
  • What is a Signaling Server and what are the different types?
    • CPPM
    • COTS
    • IBM
  • Why do I need a Signaling Server
  • How does it connect?
    • VLAN, ELAN, TLAN, CLAN
    • IP Addresses
    • Sample Diagrams
  • Server Redundancy and Geographical Redundancy
  • and How do I Get Started?

This class will conclude with an interactive Q&A session on the Signaling Server and best practices for implementing VOIP.  If VoIP is coming to your company, you need to make sure you're with us on Sunday!

At the conclusion of the session, Brian will be giving away a free single site Black Box Net Check Service ($2,200 value) to one lucky attendee!

Wednesday March 19 9:30 am -1:00pm

Microsoft's Office Communications Server in Action presented by Adam Carpenter and Rich Maguire, Integration Partners Corp.   (B, I, A)

Integration Partners Corp. will conduct a seminar to explore the installation steps to activating Microsoft's OCS and the Nortel CS1000 Release 5.0 system integration in your enterprise environment.

During this session the topics of discussion and demonstration will include but not be limited to the following:

  • Live demonstration showing the capabilities of Unified Communications
    • Hear how OCS ‘plays’ in ICA
    • See some LIVE DEMOS of how Unified Communications from MS and Nortel simply make sense
    • Discuss idea’s on to improve employee productivity using Unified Communications
  • CS1000
    • Discussion of the different integration options of Rls 4.5 with LCS / Rls 5.0 with OCS
    • Loading software onto the CS1000
    • Identifying the required licenses to enable the Microsoft integration
    • Building / designing the coordinated dialing plan for the Microsoft OCS / CS1000 to support the integration
    • Building the SIP trunks / D-Channel integration
    • NRS Services programming and set up
    • Gateway end points network routing
    • TN programming for each end user - AST’s and PCA
    • Testing and trouble shooting discussions to identify mis-configurations and potential operational problems
  • Microsoft Office Communications Server
    • Loading the OCS server software
    • Multimedia Communication Manager (MCM) add-on for OCS
    • SIP definitions for OCS, CS1000 and Office Communicator Clients
    • Active Directory User changes for Office Communicator Client

End-Users will see the system's ease of use and functionality.  Management will see true business value to your company's employees, and giving you an edge on competitors.  Client PC/Server, Data Network and Voice Services teams will see the technical implications and power of Unified Communications.

Contact Center From "Soup to Nuts" - All You Need to Know by Jim Hall, Nortel  (B, I, A)

In addition to the 1-hour sessions on Contact Center, join us for an in-depth session on the technology of Contact Centers. Jim Hall is a Senior Architect for Contact Center Applications. He knows how this system works and will be able to give you concrete advice regarding your business. Jim will skip past the marketing and sales aspects and dive right to the benefits of the technology and how it can help you.

You'll see a Live Session of Contact Center so you can witness how it works!

You'll discover:

  • How the implications of items like the Internet, email, presence, call recording, screen-pop technology, and work force management impact Contact Center and how can you use them to help your company
  • Answers to your questions on
    • Skills-based routing
    • Scripting
    • Contact Center reporting
    • Multimedia solutions
    • Computer Telephony Integration (CTI)

If you are using Symposium or Contact Center 6.0 today, come learn about advances within the Contact Center Suite.  You'll walk away with a clearer understanding of this technology and how to leverage the strength of Contact Center.

Stay tuned for more details as we get closer.  And get ready for answers to your Contact Center questiions!