Published in News

Kinect to get Lync support

by on18 November 2010


Video chat gets extended to corporate users
Microsoft will apparently be extending Kinect-equipped Xbox 360s that are able to take advantage of Microsoft Lync. The product formally known as Office Communicator has been rebranded as Lync.

Where Kinect fits into this puzzle is that Microsoft will extend the abilities of Kinect to give it the ability to connect to the Lync platform to allow video chat.  For example, this will allow users at home to use their Kinect-equipped Xbox 360 to participate in video chats by connecting to corporate Lync servers. (Kinect does offer video chat support already to Windows Live Messenger users.)

Using a Kinect-equipped Xbox 360 might work well in some satellite environments beyond what you might think of as a traditional use of the product. Another example of extending Lync to Kinect would also provide corporate users the ability to check in at home with the family in the living room from the road. Microsoft is big on the fact that the Lync open standard is what makes this possible, and the company apparently plans to extend Lync support to other software.

While Microsoft was not specific as to when a needed update to enable Lync support on Kinect-equipped Xbox 360 consoles would be coming, the plans are for it to arrive soon. The update to enable Lync support on the Kinect-equipped Xbox 360 will, of course, be free. Microsoft released Lync Server 2010 in a final version that dropped in October, and has plans to release the software in over 150 countries within the next 30 days.
Rate this item
(1 Vote)