Microsoft plots unified IP comms

Microsoft has detailed its strategy to bring together email, instant messaging, voice and web conferencing in a single system, in an effort to simplify business communications.

Speaking at a strategy briefing in San Francisco, Microsoft Business Division president Jeff Raikes said that firms are currently operating two parallel infrastructures – a private branch exchange (PBX) for voice, and a data network for email and applications.

“Consequently, communication is inconvenient – it’s not connected, and not linked with the business applications and processes we’re using every day,” Raikes said.

Microsoft’s plan is for unified Internet Protocol (IP)-based communications with the PC at its centre. The capabilities will run on forthcoming editions of Exchange Server and Live Communications Server, now renamed Office Communications Server 2007 and upgraded with a slew of new features.

Office Communicator 2007, the client for Office Communications Server, is now a fully functional softphone, which lets users call colleagues directly from Outlook, for example. Raikes added that Exchange Server will also allow firms to build single user identities around a single directory across all communication channels, reducing management costs for IT.

Microsoft said that its strategy is standards-based, and it is working with partners to make its platform interoperable with other products and existing infrastructure. Neil Laver, head of marketing at Microsoft UK’s Unified Communications Group, said, “Just because you are running Lotus Notes does not mean you can’t use features such as instant messaging.”

Laver said that many firms are already replacing PBXs, but added that the new platform can be integrated with existing phone systems. Microsoft also demonstrated RoundTable, an audio-video collaboration device with a 360-degree camera designed for web conferences.

Exchange Server 2007 is scheduled for release in late 2006 or early 2007, said Microsoft, and Communications Server 2007 and Communicator 2007 will ship in the second quarter of next year.

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