Is there a way to launch a MS Lync call from a Captivate software demo?

Report · Aug 11, 2015

Hi,

I am on an IT Support desk and we are in the process of making self-help videos using captivate to allow users to further help themselves and try to reduce the number of calls we get. As part of this, at the end of the video we would like to create a couple of buttons that will refer end users back to the desk if they need further support after trying the video.

We have managed to create a button to launch our live chat page, however I am just wondering if there was a way to create a button that would launch a Lync call to the service desk just like the chat function. Everyone in the business uses a Lync softphone as their default telephone as we don't have many hard phones left, so it would just be a case of launching the Lync call to our direct number. Is there any way to do this at all? Would I be better contacting Lync/Microsoft support?

Report · Aug 12, 2015

I'm not too familiar with Lync, but I was able to find this:

#2 – Auto-Contact URL for Voice Calls

As it turns out, it’s pretty easy to send a Lync-enabled phone number via email.

All you have to do is create an HTML link in this format – “tel:+12223334444“. 1 plus the area code plus the number. No spaces (and no quotation marks, of course). In HTML it’ll look like this: <a href=”tel:+12223334444″>Call 222-333-4444</a>

Outlook will even auto-create the link if you type it out in an email window.

Lync grabs onto any tel: links Outlook receives. So when the email arrives and the recipient clicks the link, it will automatically open a Lync call window.

(NOTE: Rob also asked about triggering a video call in the same way. I don’t know of a link format that will do this directly. But! Adding video to a call is just one more click in the call window. So, still within reach.)

Hopefully, that will help!

And also this:

On a windows 8 machine you can have several application that can open Lync and Outlook related URL’s. This can be a problem since it may not always be the application you want to use that is opening your links. This article will help you take control of your Unified Communications links.

The applications

Lync Rich (desktop) client – Opens TEL:, SIP: and Lync meeting links

Lync Windows Store App – Opens Lync meeting links

This second option may be a bit more approachable...