Microsoft launches next wave of business communications software

Microsoft Corp have announced the worldwide availability of the company's new unified communications software, with promises to streamline workplace communications and helping reduce the cost of the average corporate voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) system by half.

“In the next decade, sweeping technology innovations driven by the power of software will transform communications,” said Bill Gates. “Working with partners, we’re making rapid advances that will enable fundamental advances in the way people communicate and collaborate at work.”

Joined by customers and partners, the Microsoft executives launched unified communications and VoIP software that includes the following:

• Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007. Software that delivers VoIP, video, instant messaging, conferencing and presence within the applications people already know and use such as Microsoft Office system applications and upcoming versions of Microsoft Dynamics™ ERP products and the Microsoft CRM release due later this year

• Microsoft Office Communicator 2007. Client software for phone, instant messaging and video communications that works across the PC, mobile phone and Web browser

• Microsoft Office Live Meeting. The next version of Microsoft’s advanced conferencing service that enables workers to conduct meetings, share documents, utilize video and record discussions from virtually any computer

• Microsoft RoundTable. A conferencing phone with a 360-degree camera that captures a panoramic view of meeting participants, tracks the speaker and can record meetings

• Service pack update of Microsoft Exchange Server 2007. The industry’s leading e-mail, voice mail, calendaring and unified messaging platform

Jeff Raikes, president of the Microsoft Business Division says “Unified communications software will transform business communications as fundamentally as e-mail did in the 1990s".

“We are deploying Office Communications Server 2007 globally, and already people are seeing substantial time savings and productivity gains,” said Etienne de Verdelhan, chief information officer with L’Occitane, a global retailer of natural ingredient cosmetics with more than 900 stores in over 60 countries. “Not only are we able to launch new business communications with just one click, but user setup and administration is extremely simple, which is critical for a company growing at our rapid pace.”

More than 50 partners joined Microsoft to announce new products and services built on Microsoft’s unified communications platform. These partners include seven hundred ninety-three partners which have achieved Microsoft’s UC Specialization in less than four months since Microsoft opened the program. These partners are trained to help customers deploy Microsoft unified communications software.

Some manufacturers have already announced global availability of 15 new Microsoft UC-qualified phones and devices. Microsoft is working closely with more than 15 strategic partners to develop new UC-enabled endpoints including handsets, wireless phones, webcams and laptops.