14 DAY TRIAL // A new resource available for download from Microsoft aims to convince business users that they should expect more from voicemail than from a sophisticated answering machine. Organizations looking for an upgrade to their legacy voicemail system should take a look at the “Voicemail: A story of unrealized potential” whitepaper from Microsoft, and test-drive Exchange Server 2010 RTM. The successor of Exchange Server 2007 brings to the table advanced Unified Messaging capabilities, which, in Microsoft’s view, recommend the product for a range of business-communication needs, including voicemail.
“Exchange Server 2010 Unified Messaging unlocks the latent potential of voicemail to enhance productivity. By treating voicemail as it would other message types, it gives users the ability to access and manage voicemail efficiently across platforms and devices. It also empowers them to customize greetings and call handling to improve customer relationships and ensure they get important calls,” an excerpt from the whitepaper reads.
Microsoft released Exchange Server 2010 to manufacturing in November 2009, and the company moved onward, working on the delivery of the first major upgrade to the product. According to the Redmond company, the Beta of Exchange Server 2010 SP1 is planned for June 2010, while the RTM will hit by the end of 2010.
“On the operational side, using Exchange Server 2010 for voicemail helps you streamline your IT infrastructure and reduce the workload of IT staff. It delivers advanced, yet easy-to-use features to help mitigate legal, compliance, and security risks. Exchange Server 2010 is also designed to scale effectively. It puts Unified Messaging within the reach of small businesses, yet can meet the needs of global enterprises with hundreds of thousands of seats,” the software giant adds in the whitepaper.
According to the Redmond giant, voicemail is nothing more than another messaging modality and needs to be treated as such, with Exchange Server 2010 providing a universal inbox, spanning well beyond email. In the case of Exchange 2010, the product’s Unified Messaging capabilities make it possible for businesses to leverage and manage voicemail functionality alongside the server’s communication options, rather than via a standalone voicemail system.
Exchange Server 2010 RTM is available for download here.