Microsoft, famous for all Windows OS and ably led by the intellectual Bill Gates, has introduced some new generation unified communication products. The most critically acclaimed amongst all these products is the Office Communications Server 2007 or OCS 2007. It is the most talked about communication gadget because of its ability to deliver communication that can be spread across modalities in a streamlined and seamless manner.

MS have also introduced their innovative and new range of desktop phones that have to be connected to the server to enable communication. It is a step forward for Microsoft as the Office Communications Server 2007 is packed with VoIP call management capabilities. The OCS 2007 can route calls with ease using the technological advantage of SIP.

OCS 2007 is one of the latest communication innovations by Microsoft among other innovative products like Office communicator 2007 and Office live meeting. The complete package with OCS 2007 comes with extraordinary soft-phone features, and an advanced on-premise server based audio, video and web conferencing that can be easily integrated with MS Office programs, and promises improved scalability.

Some of the finest features include accessibility of Exchange Unified Messaging features that are a part of the Communicator, PBX integration with the Office Communicator Mobile, mobile presence and IM, and finally VoIP integration in mobile devices.

Microsoft with their partners like LG-Nortel, Polycom and Thomson Telecom is planning to create a new range of IP desktop phones specifically for enabling businesses using the Office Communicator experience. This will help the OCS 2007 to analyze and present a complete people or business centric communication experience. Microsoft believes that the most innovative aspect is the scroll wheel, which has been installed in all their new phone devices and it can enable people to scan effectively the status of different contacts and simultaneously allow them to select a person who needs to be contacted. 

The OCS 2007 is hailed as an ahead of time innovation, which will play an important role in providing a person-centric communication experience. It will completely change the existing outlook of enterprises towards communication solutions.

Microsoft has uploaded release notes or RTM’s, which is available on their website and you can also download a free trial version from http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/communicationsserver/default.aspx. The free trial version is a single communication package with multiple applications like the Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007, Speech Server (2007) and Microsoft Office Communicator 2007. The Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 works in-sync with the OCS 2007 and will help in connecting people inside an enterprise as well as outside using a PC and phone.

The Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 is expected to be released by fall of this year and has been built completely on the very fundamentals of presence and instant messaging. The Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 will support ICE framework of protocols and this means that a user can connect from anywhere in the world without having to use a VPN connection. All the action will take place this year itself, so let’s keep our fingers crossed and wait for it to unveil!