Integrated Messaging Service (IMS)
IMS allows users to deal with voicemails through their normal email interface (Microsoft Outlook or Exchange). Voicemails can still be handled conventionally using the telephone.
Voicemails are presented with a special icon in the users email inbox. When a voicemail is opened, a special form appears which enables the user to play back the message on their telephone. The voicemail itself remains on the voicemail server.
When a voicemail is read, forwarded or deleted, either from the email or by using the phone, its status is reflected in both the mailbox and the email inbox.
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Playing Messages Through the PC
Normally IMS plays the voicemail messages through the PC user's telephone. IMS can be set up to send the voicemail messages as wav files which are played using the PC's sound capabilities. However this creates a heavy load on the network and servers and so is not recommended. Typically, one minute of speech requires the transfer of a 1MB file across the network.
To ensure the successful installation of Voicemail Pro with IMS, the steps in the following sections should be followed. Particular attention should be paid to the Permissions specified.
Installation of the IMS components on the Voicemail Pro server PC is part of the Voicemail Pro installation.
Note the following within the IP Office Manager configuration:
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IMS License:
IMS operation requires a license on IP Office in addition to the Voicemail Pro licenses. The license must appear as Valid and Unlimited in the IP Office configuration before installation of IMS.
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IP Office Voicemail Email Settings:
The Voicemail Email settings within the IP Office configuration for each User are not applicable to IMS and should be switched off. They are normally off by default.
IMS Limitations
IMS is designed to work in a system that comprises one IP Office and one Microsoft Exchange Server. It can be used in a system with more than one telephone systems so long as that system has centralized voicemail using just one voicemail server.
IMS cannot be used to:
Voicemails should not be placed in Public Folders.
Windows 98 client PC's must connect to the IMS Server PC using TCP/IP. Clients that do not use TCP/IP are not supported.
IMS Components
IMS comprises of the following components.
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IP Office
One of the IP400 Office series of telephone systems.
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Voicemail Pro
Provides voicemail services to the IP Office extension users.
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IMS Server
This actually consists of two services installed on the Voicemail Pro Server PC:
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Microsoft Exchange Server
The customers MS Exchange server.
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IMS Administration Tool
This tool is used to maintain the association of voicemail mailboxes to email mailboxes.
The following additional components are required on the user PC's.
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Microsoft Exchange or Outlook
Microsoft Exchange Client or Outlook 97 or higher.
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IMS Client
Installed on each email user's PC. This provides a voicemail interface within the user's Microsoft Exchange or Outlook program.
IMS Installation Alternatives
The IMS Server actually consists of two components:
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IMS Gateway Service.
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IMS Voice Service.
These components can be installed separately if required. However the following rules must be followed:
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The IMS Voice Service must be installed on the Voicemail Pro server PC.
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The IMS Gateway Service can be installed on either the Voicemail Pro server PC or the Exchange Server PC. Installation of the IMS Gateway Service onto the Exchange Server PC requires more installation steps but may improve performance in some systems.
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