Lync Web App 2013 (LWA)

There is so much to be said about the next generation of Lync platform – Lync 2013. I am sure bloggers around the world, right now, at this very moment are scratching heads with the one question – where do I start. I am no exception…

Today I want to share few screenshots of the new LWA taken from my (Steve forgive me) iPad 2. First and foremost – the wait is over. Today we can use our tablets (whatever they can be) to join Lync meetings and have (almost) full meeting experience. Why “almost” – we will see below.

When opened meeting link in web browser, I was presented with the new LWA look:

Of course, I also had the option to sign as Authenticated User, i.e. Presenter.

I joined as “Guest” and landed in the Lobby because the Conferencing Policy of my Lab does not allow Anonymous users to jump in a meeting just like that…

From my Slate device (to set the record straight – running Windows 8 RC), I joined as Organizer and “accepted” the Guest in the lobby. I was on Lync meeting from iPad!!!

Time to test the modalities.

IM - check.

Poll - check.

WhiteBoard - check. See the controls on right?

Desktop sharing - nope. But I have been told so in the beginning. Oh yeah, I am on iPad...

I could not test PowerPoint presentation and cannot comment as of this moment. Will follow up once my WAC (Office Web App Companion server) is deployed in the lab. I expect to work, since WAC uses standard DHTML and JavaScript, supported on most of the mobile platforms today.

Needless to say, the LWA worked full-featured on any device I had in hand that ran Windows OS.

So much Lync, so little time...