Microsoft Gathers Partner Ecosystem behind Unified Communications Drive

Microsoft is massing a comprehensive partner ecosystem designed to support its vision for unified communications. And of course that at the heart of the Redmond Company's drive for unified communications is the Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007. Interop Las Vegas 2007 was the stage where Microsoft unveiled that 12 top industry leaders will deliver complete support for its unified communication software by adopting the company's interoperability specification for Office Communications Server 2007.

The implementation of industry wide interoperability will create an infrastructure for software-based unified communications. Alcatel-Lucent, Avaya Inc., Cisco Systems Inc., Ericsson, Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories Inc., Mitel Networks Corp., NEC Corp., Nortel Networks and Siemens Enterprise Communications and gateway providers AudioCodes Ltd., Dialogic Corp. and Quintum Technologies Inc. are the companies enumerated by Microsoft for supporting Office Communications Server 2007.

"As the traditional business telecommunications model evolves, businesses are seeking guidance for the best way to leverage their existing assets as they deploy unified communications," said Gurdeep Singh Pall, corporate vice president, Unified Communications Group at Microsoft. "This broad industry support will give business the assurance that Microsoft's unified communications software will work with the applications and networks they have today."

With Office Communications Server 2007 an integer part of Microsoft's unified communications, the company aims to deliver voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), presence, instant messaging and conferencing services across traditional systems.

"By deploying Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 alongside our existing PBX systems, we've found a powerful and sensible strategy for moving to an IP-based communication solution," said Sue Workman, associate vice president for support at Indiana University. "With this new solution, we're able to 'speak' to newly admitted students without worrying about long-distance costs. Additionally, Office Communications Server enhances the Office suite of products with feature-rich productivity tools like presence management, mobility and integration. These tools will help us streamline administrative processes and communication between faculty, staff, students and external partners."