<A target="_blank" href="http://www.infoworld.com/d/open-source-software/you-get-locked-lync-consider-open-source-alternatives-167683-0?source=rss_infoworld_top_stories_">Lync is Microsoft's unified communications platform combining voice</A>, Web conferencing, and instant messaging. Before you sign the contract, and lock yourself into Microsoft, there are some alternatives.