You can quote me! "Personally I have forgotten how to dial my office phone. And I never slave over SAP entering home phone expenses for expensive business calls. Every EasyCall saves me time and, more often than not, saves Citrix a ton on telephone expenses."

EasyCall is a simple solution from Citrix and, quite frankly, a hidden gem of a feature. Using a client plugin and a Xen-based virtual appliance that brokers calls with your VoIP system, EasyCall makes calls for users with a simple click anywhere on their screen. It even enables conference calls for up to 50 users! Now in EasyCall 3.0, users can even configure the Follow Me feature which tries to find them using a list of numbers they configure. Did I mention that it works with a lot of different telephone systems? And did I mention that users just need a phone that rings? No need to mess with softphones for remote access....though it works with those too. And now, NetScaler users can add click to call numbers to web applications..it's simple with EasyCall. What it all comes down to is that EasyCall is like a softphone, but without any additional cost.

To get EasyCall, just download and install XenServer and add the EasyCall Virtual Appliance to your XenApp, XenDesktop or NetScaler setup. Download it and go.

What's new in EasyCall 3.0? Call forwarding so you can both make and receive calls remotely; authentication supports for BYOC (Bring your own computer) users; a user portal accessible from browsers and even iPhones for managing conferencing, call forwarding, and locations; Win 7 and Snow Leopard support; dial-in access to EasyCall conferences; net call links for EasyCalling specific company telephone numbers; and delivery via Citrix Receiver 1.1! All in five languages!

Congratulations and thank you to all those folks that created this new version! Please check it out and let us know what you think. We welcome any and all feedback!

Learn more about Citrix XenApp 5 Feature Pack 2

• XenApp 5 Feature Pack 2 Blogs- http://community.citrix.com/blogs/tag/xa5fp2
• Official Press Release - http://citrix.com/English/NE/news/news.asp?newsID=1857726
• XenApp 5 Feature Pack 2 release Web Site - http://citrix.com/xenapp/featurepack2
• XenApp 5 Feature Pack 2 Executive Video - http://citrix.com/xenapp/fp2/video
• XenApp 5 Feature Pack 2 Release Webinar - http://citrix.com/xenapp/fp2/techtalk
• XenApp Expert Series videos for this release - http://citrix.com/xenapp/fp2/expertseries
• Download XenApp technology previews - http://citrix.com/xenapp/techpreviews
• XenApp Product Page - http://citrix.com/xenapp/

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EasyCall Conferencing

One of the larger expenditures for enterprises is the cost of voice communications, specifically conference calling. Most enterprises use an outside vendor to host the conference calling capabilities for global communications between internal employees and external participants. You can completely do away with that cost with EasyCall Conferencing. Here is how it works...

EasyCall Conferencing, which is a feature of EasyCall, allows EasyCall users to quickly set up ad-hoc conferences by sending participants an EasyCall Conferencing URL. Participants join a conference call simply by clicking a URL instead of having to dial a conference phone number and complex access codes. The calls are hosted on the EasyCall Gateway, providing toll-free access at much lower cost than commercial audio conference services.

To enable external users to join EasyCall Conferences, join requests must be proxied to the EasyCall Gateway from the internet as the EasyCall Gateway is always installed inside the corporate firewall. This is similar to many web applications that require protected external access, and the HTTPS proxy is simple to configure on the Citrix Netscaler to provide the necessary SSL Offloading and Content Filtering.

The Citrix NetScaler System provides continuous service availability through application-level protection by blocking attacks and delivery of the EasyCall application securely. The Citrix NetScaler Content filtering prevents unwanted requests from reaching the EasyCall Gateway.

The EasyCall Conferencing configuration template for the NetScaler policies is provided free of charge right here on our community website. Just import it, and your NetScaler is setup for EasyCall Conferencing.

Together, the EasyCall Gateway and NetScaler provides a low-cost, non-recurring charge, to host global conference calls with your own equipment, making it easy for participants to join just by clicking a URL ... no cryptic meeting codes or passwords.

Download the EasyCall Conferencing / NetScaler Deployment Guide Guide.

Download the EasyCall Conferencing - NetScaler AppExpert Configuration Template.

Watch how easy this is:

How it will look in your network:

Download the EasyCall Virtual Appliance here.

Get the NetScaler here.

Tap into the power of AppExpert!

In EasyCall 2.1, Citrix introduced the very first Citrix virtual appliance.  Citrix will soon discontinue the EasyCall hardware appliances. Which means customers can download the EasyCall VA for free and run on top of XenServer express, which is also free!  Login is requred at  ">http://www.citrix.com/English/ss/downloads/results.asp?productID=683164 

Some bullet points..

•First Citrix virtual appliance
•Simplified evaluation and demonstration
•Based on XenServer 5
•Reduced deployment and management costs
•Increased capacity
  •Failover
•Multiple Gateway Administration
•Capacity for large customers

Citrix EasyCall provides a simple and intuitive way communication enabling your existing applications with the flexibility of using any telephone.

EasyCall enables:

• Click-to-Call from any application
• Any telephone (mobile, office, home)
• Click-to-Call enabled directory & call-log
  
  The embedded presentation below reviews the features of Citrix EasyCall.
  
  

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  Click here to view the presentation in full screen at Slide Share.
  
  

Here is a short demo video that covers how to use EasyCall and reviews briefly how it works.

EasyCall Demo video

EasyCall is a standard feature on:

• Citrix XenApp Platinum Edition
• Citrix NetScaler Platinum Edition
• Citrix XenDesktop Platinum Edition
  
  

You can find the EasyCall Administrator's Guide here and the Getting Started Guide here. The EasyCall User Guide is at this link.

There are several Systems Integrators Guide for various phone systems -

Nortel

Avaya

Bandwidth.com

Improvements in EasyCall 2.0

EasyCall 2.0 contains many of the improvements you have suggested:

-         Simpler phone selection

-         Simpler directory search, which now searches both the corporate directory and your  Outlook contact t the same time

-         New call status and cancel features

-         Further improved number recognition

 EasyConference Tech Preview

A new feature called EasyConferencewill enable you to use EasyCall for audio conferences. 

New EasyCall Directory

You can leave the new Directory Bar on your desktop so you can use it anytime. Just start typing a name, a few letters of the first name space then the last, or now last name comma first name.
 

More EasyCall 2.0 Tips

-         Use EasyCall to call telephone numbers in Email signatures, GoToMeeting invites, Salesforce.com contacts, Outlook Contacts, etc.

-         Use EasyCall to place calls from your office or even the conference rooms you frequent.

-         Use EasyCall whenever working remotely for business calls. No more long distance charges on your home phone. No more international calls on your mobile phone. No more airtime overages.

-         Use the EasyCall Directory to look up and call coworkers. Finding phone numbers has never been faster.

 

-         If you don't want to share your home or mobile number with the folks you call, use the Hideoption. The folks you call will see the main number and not your personal numbers as your calling line ID.
-         If you are using EasyCall from the campus environment, you can save the company a little more money by configuring your extension as one of your location options. 

-         Make sure you enter "X" or "ext" before your five digit number.  Everywhere else, just use your regular office telephone number. 

 

Configuration of the EasyCall Gateway

1	Connect to the Specify server via the default url Https://10.20.30.40:8443 Username = root Password = rootadmin   Click Login.
2	After login completes you will be presented the Dashboard screen.
3	Select the Network Configuration tab on the left menu.  Enter new network information.  At this time you do not need to configure interface 2
4	Select the Static Routes tab which shows information which is entered automatically when the network configuration is completed.  You should not need to enter any data at this time.
5	Select the DNSHost tab is used to enter the network DNS servers.  Enter current data and select the Submit button
6	To specify license server information  *1. In the administration tool, click *License Management.  2. Enter the IP address or the host name of the Citrix License Server.3. If you are using Citrix Presentation Server (XenApp) Platinum Editionlicenses for the EasyCall Gateway, select the Use Citrix PresentationServer Platinum Licenses checkbox.4. Click Submit.For more information, refer to "Pointing to a Citrix License Server" in the_EasyCall Gateway Administrator's Guide_.
7	To define the properties of your trunk  *1. In the EasyCall Gateway administration tool, click *Trunk Configuration.    2. Select the switch type to display the settings specific to the switch and thenenter the settings provided by your telephony specialist.3. Click Submit.For more information, refer to "Configuring the Trunk" in the EasyCall Gateway_Administrator's Guide_
8	The Trunk Configuration Advance tab lets you select external IP, Local network, user name, and secret password.  These fields are not needed at this time.
9	To configure call handling 1. In the administration tool, click Call Configuration. 2. From Country, select the country in which the EasyCall Gateway islocated. 3. The International Dial Prefix will be pre-populated based on the country selected. 4. The Domestic Dial Prefix will be pre-populated based on the Country selected. 5. In Area Code, enter the local area code for the EasyCall Gateway. 6. In Trunk Access Code, enter the prefix that must be dialed to access an outside line from the corporate telephony system. 7. In Voice Mail Extension, enter the access number for the telephony system's voice mail. 8. Click Submit. For more information, refer to "Configuring Call Handling for the EasyCall Gateway Locale" in the _EasyCall Gateway Administrator's Guide_
10	To configure a directory source  *1. In the administration tool, click *Directory Source Configuration.  2. Click Add and then on the Server Configuration tab, select the Source Type that you will configure, either LDAP or CSV. For detailed information on the LDAP and CSV settings refer to the EasyCall_Gateway Administrator's Guide_.
11	Server Configuration tab, select the Source Type that you will configure, either LDAP or CSV. For detailed information on the LDAP and CSV settings refer to the EasyCall_Gateway Administrator's Guide_.
12	Select the Attibute Configuration tab.  This page will show you the current fields and the parameters that are entered by default.  Changes are only necessary if fields do not match current environment.
13	Select Maintenance > Backup/Restore and follow the backup process on that page to backup the system configuration files. Section not needed during POC setup.
14	Select Upgrades tab.  Follow instructions on the page to select the upgrade image and then select Upgrade.  The image will be loaded on the EasyCall gateway and the system will prompt you to reset the gateway.
15	Select Services tab to view current status and also to shutdown or restart the EasyCall Gateway.
16	Select Date/Time tab to set current time for the EasyCall Gateway.  Select Submit to activate the settings
17	Select Password tab if it's needed to change the default password for the user root..

New EasyCall release adds robustness and features Submitted by David Coleman, Director, Product Management Citrix® EasyCall™, which enables you to make calls on your phone of choice by simply clicking a phone number in any application, now offers increased robustness and new features. The latest product version, EasyCall 1.2, was released to manufacturing on May 20. EasyCall is included in the Platinum Editions of Citrix XenApp™ (the new name for Citrix Presentation Server™), Citrix® NetScaler®, and Citrix XenDesktop™. EasyCall is also available as a standalone product.

This technology benefits Citrix customers by streamlining the process of placing phone calls and enabling users to take advantage of their company's negotiated phone rates instead of racking up costly cell phone or long-distance charges when traveling or working from home. Calls can be made from any application, whether delivered with a Citrix solution or installed on a PC, without any changes to the phone system or the application. Innovator Award recognition Integrating communications and applications is an important IT trend designed to improve user productivity and satisfaction. Recognizing Citrix's innovation in this arena, VON Magazine honored EasyCall with a 2008 Top Five Innovator Award as an advanced communication system. (Read the article here.) What's new? Client publishing: The EasyCall client can now be published in non-load-balanced environments using XenApp in addition to being streamed or locally installed.

Broadened support for telephone systems: o Alcatel OmniPCX Enterprise Version 8.0 (QSIG and SIP) o Asterisk 1.2 and 1.4 (SIP) o Avaya S8300/S8700-Series (QSIG) o Bandwidth.com (SIP) o Cisco Unified Communications Manager, Versions 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, and 6.0; Cisco Unified Communication Manger Express, Versions 3.2 and 4.0 (SIP) o Nortel Meridian Series and Nortel Communication Server, versions 4.0 and 5.0 (QSIG and SIP)

EasyCall client now localized in French, Spanish, and German

A user-friendly download page for installing the EasyCall client on each EasyCall Gateway How EasyCall works When you hover the mouse over any phone number in any application, the EasyCall phonebar will fade in. You then simply click on the green phone button to initiate the call. EasyCall via the EasyCall Gateway signals the PBX to place a call to your phone. Once you answer the call, the PBX dials the destination phone number. Because all of these calls are initiated by the corporate PBX, the calls are made using the company's negotiated phone rate.

For more information about EasyCall, please contact David Coleman at david.coleman@citrix.com, or visit www.citrix.com.

One key component in the Citrix VDI solution is the inclusion of communication. This is a clear distinction from other VDI solutions in the market because no one else has even considered adding communication as part of their VDI solution. When Citrix develops XenDesktop, we made a very concerted effort to design a VDI platform that is capable of supporting the next evolution of desktops or operating systems.

There are numerous market drivers that propel Citrix to make EasyCall part of XenDesktop. In enterprises today, the line between the IT and the telecom organizations have been blurred. In many cases, there's no longer a separate organization that handles only telecom. A lot of telecom organizations have been folded into the IT organizations. Applications from Microsoft, Adobe, IBM, Oracle, and more are key culprits in that transition as they increasingly make communication as a core part of their applications. As much as some IT tries to separate communication and application, it's no longer realistic to do so. Enterprise users have already been making voice calls from their PCs, IT can no longer ignore this new reality.

Citrix is fully aware of this communication trend and we are addressing this heads on for our customers so that our customers are well prepared to handle this. With Citrix XenDesktop having communication as part of its core competency, organizations would not have to scramble later to find telephony vendors to add communication.  And telephony vendors are the last place to look for a VDI communication solution as these folks have even yet to understand how applications work in the users' world today.

XenDesktop is not like the VDI solution as some of our competitor like to put it. It is actually at least one generation ahead of where they would like to be.

If you have been following the communication industry, you have no doubt been barraged by all these talks about Unified Communications. But all these years of hype, Unified Communications remains just a fragment of imagination. Why?

Let me share with you just one big reason why, it is not UNIFIED!

Unified Communications is actually a misnomer. What the telephony vendors are doing is to tie you into their own suite of products that they hastily bundle together, then slapping on the Unifeid Communications name. It is not unified because telephony system from one vendor does not work well with the system from another vendor.  Furthermore, there are great limitations on how the telephony companies implemented Unified Communications.

Let's look at the click-to-call technology. Most telephony companies will claim that they support this as part of Unified Communications. However, you will find that this one capability is only limited to one or two popular software applications. You will also discover that in order to extend click-to-call to other applications, you are expected to invest in internal development resources as well as external professional services from the telephony companies. It becomes too cost prohibifive when you need to include communication into more than two or three applications.

If you cannot put a simple click-to-call technology without making your customers break the bank, do you still have the right to call your solution Unified Communications? I think not.

Citrix comes out with a click-to-call solution, called EasyCall, that challenges the current mindset. We are challenging the status-quo on how the current crops of Unified Communications vendors conduct business. EasyCall is a disruptive technology that enables click-to-call on any applications using any phone devices! It is an agnostic solution that gives you the freedom to leverage your existing infrastructure and achieve real hard dollar savings.

As part of Synergy Underground project, we interviewed many of the people in the XenApp booth in the TechLab to talk about the different features and components of Citrix XenApp Platinum.

(Each of these videos were shot and streamed live to the Underground site via a Nokia N95 cell phone. The convienience and ability to stream live video directly to the net is the trade off for the lower audio and video quality. Read this post for an explanation of the process and a video on how the live streaming worked.)

Here are three of those video interviews -

Jay Tomlin on Smart Access

David Wagner talks about the new User profile Manager Tech Preview

Victor Thu talks about Easy Call
(low audio in first half)

I'm sure many people are wondering why Citrix creates a quirky communication solution called EasyCall. Why does communication have to do with Citrix's core business?

The answer is: SIMPLICITY!

We all know how convenient it is to make phone calls from your cell phone. All you need to do is look up someone's name and hit dial. However, why is it that you cannot do the same with your PC? Your PC is arguable your most comprehensive and most powerful phone book in your possession.

And today, you are seeing more and more software and web applications that have chat and voice capabilities built into them. Just in the last few years, instant messaging clients from Yahoo, Microsoft, AOL, etc have all embedded voice capability inside.  

 
You are also seeing an evolution led by Microsoft, Adobe, IBM, etc to add communication as just another feature within the applications. A good example is what you see below with Microsoft Outlook, you can simply click on the Smart Tag feature and call someone. Or from Adobe where its Acrobat includes a web collaboration feature. None of these communication capabilities are what you would traditionally associate with the software companies. Yet, these features are being introduced more and more by the software companies.

This is because for an average office worker, it is much easier to learn a simple new feature within the existing application than to learn an all new softphone interface that sits outside of that work environment. Softphone adds complexity to the user environment and has demonstrated a profound negative impact on its adoption rate. Softphone also introduces unnecessary challenges to the already stretched IT organization.

Since Citrix today can deliver thousands of business critical applications to the users, we simply add voice communication on top of those delivered applications. You can now call anyone from any applications without having to do any sort of integration work! This simple addition brings great values to the customers. This is why EasyCall is an integral part of the Citrix solution.

So check out EasyCall today here.