<p>Today AT&amp;T announced that it will add Microsoft's Lync enterprise communications tool to its Unified Communications service. The move is a coup for Lync, as it presents an opportunity for the platform to greatly expand its market reach.</p><p>Lync, one of two communication products that Microsoft vends, provides video chat, messaging, voice calls, and screen sharing to large corporations; it has the internal security that big companies demand, while consumers are likely content with Skype and its more friendly interface.</p><p>Lync recently found a new home in the Office 365 for Business products. Microsoft appears to be full-steam ahead in baking the product into every business-facing service that it can. Lync has been performing admirably for its parent, growing at rates that Microsoft is more than happy to remind you are large, and impressive.</p><p>Customers of AT&amp;T can run Lync on-premise, or allow AT&amp;T to host the service for them. Interestingly, AT&amp;T will happily vend you Office 365, which includes Lync. The value proposition that AT&amp;T brings to delivering this sort of service is that it operates a massive global IP network; running applications on its fiber could be among the fastest ways to do so.</p><p><a href="http://thenextweb.com/microsoft/2013/03/19/att-picks-up-microsfots-lynch-for-its-unified-communications-product-boosting-microsofts-corporate-communications-client/">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/hp-delivers-business-continuity-for-unified-communications-nyse-hpq-1769400.htm">HP Delivers Business Continuity for Unified Communications</a> (Marketwire (press release))</p><p><a href="http://www.telepresenceoptions.com/2013/03/att_expands_strategic_relation/">AT&amp;T Expands Strategic Relationship with Microsoft to Deliver Unified ...</a> (Telepresence Options)</p><p><a href="http://www.zdnet.com/at-and-t-adds-microsoft-lync-to-portfolio-for-business-customers-7000012819/">AT&amp;T adds Microsoft Lync to portfolio for business customers</a> (ZDNet)</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dsJK4fJ0x-1huBMqgO6B2kkRyw-jM&ned=us">9 additional articles.</a></p>