“Who we are”

Bleecker Consulting Group (BCG) is a partnership of Microsoft Alumni with close ties to MSFT Sales, Services and Product Groups. In 2011, our Principal, David Bleecker founded BCG as a Microsoft Partner firm specializing in Cloud, Voice and Security Services, with a particular focus on Office 365 Voice, Video and Apps.

At MSFT:

• Our Principal led two of the largest participating customer organizations through the Office 365 Beta program (each with 40,000+ employees and were competitive to IBM and Google solutions).
• Led the development of one of MSFT’s largest UC customer case studies (30,000+ seats).
• Led and won the RFP for a global Unified Communications solution for a 40,000+ seat organization based on Microsoft Lync 2010 (vs. Cisco and Avaya).

At BCG:

• We are pioneers of Office 365 Voice solutions having two of the first MSFT sponsored case studies of Hosted Lync Voice for Office 365 (one deployed in Amazon’s AWS). See our “Customers,” “Services” and “Blog” pages for more on this.
• Our former colleagues at MSFT have recognized us as experts in Cloud and Voice services by inviting us for speaking engagements at a variety of MSFT Cloud related events. These include speaking at regional and national MSFT Online Services Conferences on the subject of Lync and Skype for Business Voice for Office 365, as well as various joint sales/marketing activities.
• We are Gold Certified Microsoft Partners. Including “competencies” in Cloud Productivity, Communications, Devices and Deployment. And, certified to deliver Skype for Business and Exchange Planning Deployment Services (S&EDPS).

“What we do”

We deliver innovative strategy, procurement, application and deployment solutions for MSFT’s Cloud Platform and Partner Ecosystem. We are pioneers in Office 365 Voice having deployed the first Lync and Skype for Business Voice for Office 365 solutions in the world – see our Case Studies !

Unified Communications: Skype for Business Voice, Video, Call Center and other integrated Business Applications with Office 365.

• We help customers and partners better understand MSFT’s Skype for Business Server and Online roadmap. What does the new E5 sku and/or add-ons deliver and more importantly, what does it not deliver? What deployment path is right for you — the Skype for Business Cloud PBX service completely hosted in Office 365 with PSTN Calling, Conferencing, and Meeting Broadcast Services? Or, use of hybrid Skype for Business Cloud PBX servcies and/or externally hosted SFB?
• Comprehensive ROI. Detailed Cost Models. Procurement Strategy and Sourcing.
• Single Tenant or Multi Tenant Options.
• Deployed in Private, Public or Hybrid Clouds.
• Hosted or hybrid hosted with Office 365 — geo redundant Skype for Business Voice + Open SIP, Video, Application, Identity and Security Services available thru US Datacenters (US West, East, Central, Intl by request), including Cloud Services Providers such as Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Rackspace.
• Skype for Business Certified SIP, and Open SIP trunks connected to Tier 1 PSTN backbones – accessible via Internet, or dedicated circuits via AWS/DirectConnect, Azure ExpressRoute or physical datacenter locations.
• Origination, Termination, Porting services. Phone Numbers / DIDs available in 50 US States + 60+ countries worldwide.
• Skype for Business Apps, including CRM Screen Pop (Dynamics, Salesforce, ZenDesk), Call Recording / Reporting, ACD / Call Queues, IVR, e911, eFax, SMS, Extensive Skype for Business/SIP Carrier monitoring, Skype for Business/SIP Web Chat, Skype for Business/SIP Web Client, Sign on integration with on-premise AD and/or Office 365 / Azure AD, including bi-directional sync.
• Microsoft certified Skype for Business hardware. “Optimized,” “qualified,” “compatible” phones, headsets – financing / leasing available.
• Microsoft Skype for Business Deployment

MSFT / AWS Online Services Platforms – including:

• End to End Strategy, Planning, Deployment, Operations and Training for Office 365, Microsoft Azure, Windows Intune, CRM Online and Amazon Web Services (AWS).
• Contract / Procurement / Licensing advisory services focused on customers preparing to renew, and/or evaluating new MSFT Enterprise Agreements.
• Cloud Centric Identity and Security Services leveraging Active Directory, ADFS, Windows Azure Active Directory and Windows Azure Application Access Services to provide Cloud SSO across multiple Cloud Services Providers.

What are some of the challenges that we solve?

• Companies that use Office 365 today and would like to use Microsoft Skype for Business Voice as a PBX replacement, as a Unified Communications (UC) Solution and/or a Call Center / Voice Application Platform.
• Companies that are evaluating Office 365 as a future communications and collaboration platform and/or evaluating using Skype4B as PBX and UC Solution / Voice App Platform.
• Companies that are evaluating using Skype for Business as PBX, UC Solution and/or Voice App Platform, but that want or must co-exist and/or integrate with traditional PBX and/or Open SIP services and endpoints (phones).
• Companies that want to enable Active Directory integrated sign on for Office 365, Skype for Business Voice and/or other Cloud Services.
• Companies that want to transition traditional Active Directory services to use “Cloud AD” or a hybrid on-premise / Cloud AD.
• In general, companies that need help evaluating both the ROI / Cost Model and the Technology Strategy / Roadmap of how, why to transition their IT services from traditional on-premise services, to Cloud services and/or “hybrid” Cloud services.

“How we do it”

We extend MSFT’s Cloud solutions, including:

• Office 365 Voice: Skype for Business Voice, Video, Call Center and Apps – available in your choice of on-premise, private / public / hybrid cloud hosting. Available as a project or as a service / subscription.
• On-demand Unified Communications across the Globe using Private, Public and Hybrid Clouds with comprehensive ROI.
• MSFT IT / Cloud Services – end-to-end strategy, planning and deployment – including procurement/licensing and training services.

How do we help you?

• ROI / Cost Model:First and foremost, we help you develop a comprehensive ROI and cost model for Office 365 and/or Skype for Business Voice. This means ROI and cost model structure for Office 365 Services vs. traditional on-premise upgrades, Skype for Business Voice on-prem vs. Hosted/Hybrid Skype for Business Voice, Single Tenant Skype for Business Voice vs. Multi-tenant, and/or variations of any of these vs. 3rd party alternatives.

• Procurement / Licensing:Once we pinpoint the ROI/Cost Model, we then help you best understand how to procure and license the solution. As MSFT Alums, we have unique insight and expertise into MSFT licensing and sales models that can be invaluable as a company gets to the “how to buy” stage.

• Deployment:Our experiences at MSFT in guiding the evaluation of some of the largest enterprise customers in the BPOS, Office 365 and Lync Voice Early Adopters Programs + our experiences as MSFT partners in deploying complex, cutting edge solutions for the first wave of Office 365 Lync and Skype for Business Voice customers provides us with unique insight and expertise to quickly and easily make your transition. And now with MSFT’s recent release of the “E5” plan and related “Cloud PBX,” PSTN Conferencing/Calling/Meeting Broadcast services – our “voice” deployment options can include MSFT’s cloud – whether hybrid or completely hosted in Office 365.

• Management/Operations:We help you accelerate the why, what and how of training/readiness activities for end users and IT personnel to ensure you realize the benefits of “IT in the Cloud” – to include updating your IT Operations/Support model and the toolset of how you “manage” your new cloud powered IT services.

For more information, visit our “Services” and “Blog” pages, “Contact Us” or just email sales@hostedskypevoice.com.

To “Test Drive” Skype for Business Voice for Office 365, visit our “Hosted Skype for Business Voice Test Drive” page.

David Bleecker

Founder and Managing Partner 

 

In the spring of 2011, David left a senior role with MSFT, relocated from West Coast to East Coast and founded The Bleecker Consulting Group as a Microsoft Partner firm specializing in Cloud, Voice and Security solutions. He is a Philadelphia, PA native, a US Army Infantry Veteran and holds BAs in Business, Economics, Communication and a Minor in Journalism, from NC State University and also holds over two dozen Microsoft and IT Industry certifications.

Skype / Lync Voice, Video and Apps as a Service

MSFT Lync 

 

 

Comprehensive ROI. Detailed Cost Models. Procurement Strategy and Sourcing.
Single Tenant or Multi Tenant Options.
Deployed in Private, Public or Hybrid Clouds.
Skype / Lync Voice, Video, Application, Identity and Security Services available thru US, Intl Datacenters + Cloud Services Providers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Verizon/Terremark, Rackspace and Microsoft Azure.

Office 365

MSFT Online Services 

 

End to End Strategy, Planning, Deployment, Operations and Training for Office 365, Windows Azure, Windows Intune, CRM Online.
Contract / Procurement / Licensing advisory services focused on customers preparing to renew, and/or evaluating new MSFT Enterprise Agreements.
Cloud Centric Identity and Security Services leveraging Active Directory, ADFS, Windows Azure Active Directory and Windows Azure Application Access Services to provide Cloud SSO across multiple Cloud Services Providers.

Skype for Business Voice Test Drive – Voice, Video, Apps for Office 365″

We can help you evaluate and deploy Skype for Business Voice for Office 365. Our Skype for Business Voice Test Drive can help you in two main ways:

• Free Trials: Skype for Business Voice Test Drive available using our existing Pilot Skype4B Voice environments, connected to Office 365 – both single tenant & multi tenant.
• *** NEW *** AWS Lync, and now Skype for Business Voice Test Drive! We had our “Grand Opening” at the AWS “Invent” Conference in Las Vegas, November 11th – 15th, 2014.
• Skype for Business Voice Pilots: “Test Drive” Skype4B Voice using a domain you own/manage, connected to your systems in your choice of private, public or hybrid cloud (this option is a paid service).

Our Skype for Business Voice Test Drive allows you to test / pilot the following capabilities / services:

• IM/Presence, Desktop Sharing
• Skype4B, PC-PC, Dial-in Audio, Video, Web Conferencing
• Inbound / Outbound PSTN calling (domestic US (Intl available as a paid service))
• “Unified Messaging” using Office 365 Exchange Online (Voicemail, Outlook Voice Access, Auto Attendant/IVR)
• Skype4B Federation
• Skype4B Call Recording, Call Groups / ACD Queues, Call Center Reporting, Keyword Call Monitoring
• Skype4B CRM Integration (Salesforce, Dynamics, Zendesk – “Screen Pop”
• Skype4B / Carrier Monitoring Services
• Skype4B / SIP Web Client
• Skype4B Web Chat
• Skype4B “Bring your own SIP” (BYOSIP) (available as a paid service)
• Skype4B Certified SIP trunks (& Open SIP) connected to Tier 1 PSTN backbones, AWS and Azure. Accessible via Internet, or via dedicated circuits thru AWS/DirectConnect, Azure ExpressRoute or physical datacenter locations
• Guided Tour of Skype4B (self-service) client, server, administration, sso, services

To get started, email us at “Skype for Business Voice for Office 365 Test Drive” or fill out our “Contact” form.

Why Skype for Business Voice, Video, Apps?

Skype for Business Voice for Office 365 is a market leading, cloud powered unified communication solution that simplifies and consolidates business process and IT spend:

• Anywhere, anytime, cloud-connected unified communication services.
• PBX Replacement. Inbound/outbound PSTN calling. Auto Attendant / Call Distribution Services.
• Voicemail integrated with Office 365 / Exchange Online email, “unified messaging” services.
• Chat, Instant Messaging / Presence integrated with your Outlook / Office 365 Calendar.
• Audio (+ Dialup), Video and Web Conferencing.
• Desktop / PC Sharing. Help Desk Troubleshooting, Remote Administration.

Why work with us?

From our “About Bleecker” page, the Bleecker team were part of an elite group of experts of (BPOS) Office 365 and (OCS) Lync Voice while with MSFT and now, as an MSFT Partner firm, leading experts and pioneers of Lync / Skype for Business Voice for Office 365.

For a customer’s perspective, take a look at the video below. It’s a great story of how Ignite Social Media, a Social Media Marketing Company headquarted in Cary, NC has been able to rapidly expand their business with the help of “pay as you go,” enterprise grade IT services from Office 365 + Hosted Lync Voice for Office 365. Since delivering this solution for Ignite in the summer / fall of 2011, they have nearly quadrupled the size of their company – from about 40 employees to more than 150. For more about Ignite Social Media and customers such as Microsoft, Samsung and Nike, visit them at www.ignitesocialmedia.com.

For more information, visit our “Blog” and “Customers” pages, “Contact Us” or just email sales@hostedskypevoice.com.

To “Test Drive” Skype for Business Voice for Office 365, visit our “Skype for Business Voice Test Drive” page.

Skype Voice Customers, Case Studies, Solutions.

Click “BCG” to find out more about two of the first MSFT sponsored case studies of Hosted Lync, Skype Voice Customers for Office 365.

Click “MSFT” to find out more about two of our Principal’s case studies while at MSFT + Avanade/Accenture.

For more information, “Contact Us” or just email sales@hostedskypevoice.com.

 

• All
• At BCG
• At MSFT + Avanade/Accenture

• 

  Ignite Social Media

  At BCG

  Ignite Social Media

  Category: At BCG

  Client: Ignite Social Media

  “Marketing Firm Fosters Creativity with Online Collaboration, Saves $49K in Costs”

   

  “…it was cheaper to get all new phones for everyone then it would be to just get new phones for the new team under my old Mitel configuration. So it was cheaper to switch (to Office 365 and Lync Voice) even though we had some sunk costs in place, which I found very interesting.”
  
  “From a financial standpoint, we saved up front costs. From a directional standpoint, if something can dramatically improve how we work with each other, that is definitely worth 20 dollars a month.”
  
  “To me the magic was not there if it didn’t incorporate (Lync) voice. The ability to make calls by simply clicking on a phone number, or set-up conference call from my computer – to anyone outside my organization – was key. …It simply didn’t make sense to get so close to an ideal system and not bring it home.”
  
  – Jim Tobin, President, Ignite Social Media

  Visit Site
• 

  Title 365

  At BCG

  

  Title 365

  Category: At BCG

  Client: Title 365

  “Igniting Innovation with Office 365”

   

  “…We looked at several options, including Google Apps, but they didn’t support what we needed for our day-to-day work. Instead, we went with Microsoft Office 365. …”
  
  “…The key component for us was Microsoft Lync voice integration with our email. We had been using Cisco Call Manager, but we needed to “future-proof” our communications infrastructure and Lync was able to meet our needs. Our IT partner David Bleecker, Managing Partner of The Bleecker Consulting Group, became a vital asset during our Lync implementation and our deployment went very smoothly. …”
  
  – Ryan Jaeger, VP Systems Engineering
  

  Visit Site
• 

  BCG

  At BCG

  

  BCG

  Category: At BCG

  Where have we done this before?

   

  At MSFT, along with the case studies shown on this page:
  • Our Principal led two of the largest participating customer organizations through the Office 365 Beta program (each with 40,000+ employees and were competitive to IBM and Google solutions).
  • Led and won the RFP for a global Unified Communications solution for a 40,000+ seat organization based on Microsoft Lync 2010 (vs. Cisco and Avaya).

   

  At BCG, along with the case studies shown on this page:
  • Our former colleagues at MSFT have recognized us as experts in Cloud and Voice services by inviting us to a variety of speaking engagements and MSFT Cloud related events. These include speaking at regional and national MSFT Online Services Conferences on the subject of Office 365 Lync Voice, Video and Apps, as well as various joint sales/marketing activities.

• 

  Advantage Sales and Marketin...

  At MSFT + Avanade/Accenture

  

  Advantage Sales and Marketing

  Category: At MSFT + Avanade/Accenture

  Client: Advantage Sales and Marketing

  “Sales and Marketing Agency Saves 70 Percent with Communications Solution.” Lync 2013 update to the original Lync 2010 case study!

  Visit Site
• 

  Kelley Blue Book (AutoTrader...

  At MSFT + Avanade/Accenture

  

  Kelley Blue Book (AutoTrader)

  Category: At MSFT + Avanade/Accenture

  Client: Kelley Blue Book

  Kelly Blue Book (now part of AutoTrader) –  “Pioneer Provider of Vehicle-Pricing Information Uses Technology to Expand Reach”

  Visit Site
• 

  Kinkos (FedEx)

  At MSFT + Avanade/Accenture

  

  Kinkos (FedEx)

  Category: At MSFT + Avanade/Accenture

  Client: Kinkos (now FedEx Kinkos)

  Kinko’s was faced with increased technical support costs from the employees in the branch offices. They had an antiquated KM system that was hard to update and did not allow them to include rich text, images, etc. that could be used to provide detail in solutions. The content creation and management tools were outdated and inefficient. They wanted to improve content authoring efficiency, and reduce the cost of phone support by improving end user self service support.

  Visit Site
• 

  Windows Server 2003 Deployme...

  At MSFT + Avanade/Accenture

  

  Windows Server 2003 Deployment Kit: Designing and Deploying Directory and Security Services

  Category: At MSFT + Avanade/Accenture

  While with Avanade/Accenture, part of the technical reviewer team for:  Windows Server 2003 Deployment Kit: Designing and Deploying Directory and Security Services.

  Visit Site
• 

  Best Practice Active Directo...

  At MSFT + Avanade/Accenture

  

  Best Practice Active Directory Design for Exchange 2000

  Category: At MSFT + Avanade/Accenture

  While with Avanade/Accenture, part of the technical reviewer team for:  Best Practice Active Directory Design for Exchange 2000.

  Visit Site