Collaboration provider Arkadin today joined the legions of suppliers offering support and services for Lync, Microsoft’s unified communications platform.

The interoperability announcements have come in droves this week as Microsoft held its Worldwide Partner Conference in Houston. Lync integrates various Microsoft programs in a cloud or premises-based model. Third parties such as Arkadin are able to obtain interoperability certification for services such as SIP trunking, telephony and video conferencing, so that they may provision Lync themselves.

For its part, Arkadin is offering two options Lync as-a-service and hybrid audio conferencing. The former lets companies deploy Lync as a service on Arkadin’s private platform, providing access to UC functions including instant messaging, presence, IP telephony, different types of conferencing and more. The hosted version cuts costs because there is little to no up-front investment and it uses VoIP. 

Meanwhile, the audio conferencing works just for on-premise Lync deployments. It’s an add-on that can be deployed for all employees or just a few. Conferencing participants may join via VoIP or the PSTN.

Arkadin runs 51 operating centers around the world, with local-language customer support. The company sells through channel partners.