Tips for Setting up your Lync 2011 Client | MAC

I’m in marketing and love design, so I am drawn toward all that the MAC offers.  This also means that most of my software looks completely different and behaves differently than it does on my colleagues windows based computers.  This includes my go to online conferencing tool Lync.  I was introduced to Lync about a year ago.  I run the Lync 2013 Client on my home based desktop PC and Lync Client 2011 on my laptop, which happens to be my MAC. 

Today, I am going to share a few tips for my friends who prefer Apple.   As you know with hosted Microsoft Lync 2011 and hosted Lync 2013, you are able to securely communicate with co-workers and customers in new and exciting ways in online meetings from anywhere in the world. 

You can instant message (IM) with your colleagues over a safe and encrypted connection as well as, see your colleagues’ ‘presence’ information within Outlook, SharePoint and Lync, so you know if they’re available at a glance.  

If your company had the Enterprise Lync client, you can start a video chat with one or more of your colleagues for a quick face-to-face meeting without leaving your desk.  You have the capability to share your desktop with your colleagues so that you can easily and efficiently collaborate on a document, get quick help on a task, finalize a group project and much, much more.  With the click of a button you can collaborate with one or multiple attendees around the world.  Lync offers web and video conferencing capabilities giving it a true face-to-face experience when presenting and sharing ideas. 

Getting Started - Lync 2011 for MAC

The 2011 MAC client download for lync takes a bit of time to upload and install.  Once the installation is complete you will be asked to add your user information provided by your IT personnel and you’re up and running. 

Your presence status displays your real-time availability for others to see.  You can change your presence status at any time by clicking the presence dropdown list and selecting your current status. You can also select “Reset Status” to let Lync set your availability automatically, based on your activity and Microsoft Outlook Calendar.

There are several ways to start an IM conversation with people or groups in your Contacts list. From your Contacts list or from the search point and click on a contact’s picture (this includes the default “blank” picture) and when the contact card opens, click the IM icon or select a contact and then click the IM   icon at the bottom of the contacts screen to send a message to the whole group.

Simply, right-click on the contact and select “Send an Instant Message,” to invite additional people into an IM conversation.  Once you add a third contact or more; notice that the Lync Window changes to “Conversation” and your contact/s will receive an invitation notification in the lower-right corner of their computer screen.  You can choose to accept a conversation invitation or decline when you are invited to a conference call from the incoming conversation invitation notification that is displayed in the lower-right corner of your computer screen.

Personalize your Lync 2011 Client

Using the Lync “Options” screen, you can enter your location, phone numbers, profile picture, how you are alerted, call forwarding, and more. While running Microsoft Lync, click on the Lync Menu and select Preferences.  You can configure each feature as desired in the window.  When you have finished close the window to save the changes.

Add Voice to an existing instant-messaging conversation

To add voice to an existing instant-messaging (IM) conversation, simply click the call button.  The recipient will receive a notice of your call in the right hand corner of their screen.

Start a Video Call

You can easily start a video call by selecting a contact and then clicking on the Lync Video Call  icon.  When answering a video call, your video is not automatically started. This is in order to allow the person you’re speaking with to see your video, click the play  icon on the bottom right corner of your picture. When there are more than two users in a video conference, Lync automatically detects who is actively speaking and displays that person’s video.

Desktop Sharing

To share your desktop with others click the monitor icon under your name.  You will be able to choose to share your desktop of show your stage.  If you would like to have another person present information you can select “show stage” and then give them permission to share information within your meeting room. 

Accept a sharing invitation

To accept a sharing invitation click “Join” you will then see the presenter’s shared desktop.

Stop sharing your desktop

When you want to stop sharing, click the “Stop Sharing” button on the sharing bar at the top of your screen.

Displaying a participant’s desktop

A participant can share their desktop (replacing the presenter’s shared desktop). For a participant to share their desktop, click “Share Now” on the recipient’s shared desktop screen. The recipient’s desktop is now displayed as the main shared screen. 

Schedule a meeting in Outlook 

In any Outlook view, create a new “Meeting” and add the people you want to attend.  In the “Meeting” tab, click on the “Online Meeting” icon and then select “Create Online Meeting.” Notice that the meeting request has all the information necessary to join the meeting.

Anyone who clicks on the “Join online meeting” link will connect to the meeting and be able to send an IM, “Share” their desktop or “Send” a file to everyone in the meeting at once.