Why pick Lync 2010/2013 over a Cisco UC Solution?

Lync is much simpler to deploy and costs significantly less. A full blown Cisco UC solution requires CUCM, CUPs, WebEX, UNITY, and MeetingPlace. Microsoft Lync can deliver those same services out of a single Standard Edition server. So how do you integrate Lync in the mix since some companies have already made huge investments with Cisco products? Well, Im glad you asked; Integration is pretty straight forward, typically consists of a Direct SIP Trunk between Lync Mediation Server and the CUCM server. For companies that have made such investments in Cisco, they are starting to see the potential of having Lync Server within their organization and so are integrating Lync Server 2010/2013 within their current Cisco Infrastructure. This allows them to move forward but in steps with the plan to eventually remove the Cisco Infrastructure at a later date.