Unified Communications: Hardware Devices and Software

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Microsoft unified communications technologies use the power of software to deliver complete communications—messaging, voice, and video—across the applications and devices that people use every day.

Integrating the experiences you associate with the telephone—phone calls, voice mail, and conferencing—the work you do on a computer—documents, spreadsheets, instant messaging, e-mail, and calendars—has the power to fundamentally change the way people work.

The Microsoft Unified Communications Microsite has all the details about Microsoft software products, Microsoft Online Services and hardware solutions that make Unified Communications a reality.

Software Products Overview:  

  • Office Communications Service (OCS) 2007, Office Communications Server 2007, along with its family of clients (Office Communicator 2007) and devices, combines enterprise-ready instant messaging, presence, conferencing, and Voice over IP telephony in a fully integrated unified communications solution.
     
  • Exchange Server 2007: Microsoft Exchange Server provides the platform for giving your users access to e-mail, calendar, contacts, faxes and voicemail
     
  • Office 2007: The Microsoft Office system is comprised of the applications you're used to—such as Word, Excel, and Outlook—plus new desktop applications and servers such as SharePoint Server, PerformancePoint Server, and Project Server.  The Office system integrates communications, enterprise systems, and Web services with the Microsoft Office applications you use every day, so you can collaborate, communicate, and get things done.
     
  • OCS 2007 Speech Server, With Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 Speech Server, you can develop and deploy interactive voice response (IVR) applications. Speech Server combines speech technologies, Voice over IP (VoIP), and telephony capabilities into a single system 
     
  • Live Communications Server 2005: Microsoft Office Live Meeting is a conferencing service that connects audiences in online meetings, training, and events.

Microsoft Online Services can be used as an alternative to implementing Microsoft products within your company :   Exchange Hosted Services, Hosted Messaging and Collaboration, Office Live Meeting service 

Microsoft Hardware Overview 

Microsoft is well known for providing software products, and more recently on-line services.  However, customers may not be aware that Microsoft and it's partners has hardware/device solutions that are compatible with the Unified Communications offering.

  • Microsoft RoundTable: Microsoft RoundTable is an advanced collaboration and conferencing device that provides participants with an engaging and immersive remote meeting experience. Used with Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 or the 2007 version of Microsoft Office Live Meeting, RoundTable provides a 360-degree view of the conference room, high-quality audio, and video that tracks the flow of conversation among multiple speakers.
     
  • Microsoft Office Communicator Devices:  There are a number of phones and other devices which are optimised to work with Microsoft Office Communicaor, including: IP Phones, USB Phones, USB Cordless Headsets, USB Corded Headsets, USB Speakerphones, Webcams and Monitors
     
  • Microsoft Windows Mobile Devices (for Business) : For organizations with mobile information workers, Windows Mobile powered solutions provide mobile access to e-mail, contacts, and calendar, and tasks. This increases employee productivity and responsiveness. Windows Mobile powered solutions help you move your business forward.  If you need to manage securely manage Windows Mobile Devices in an Enterprise environment you may also wish to look at Systems Center Windows Mobile Device Manager
     
  • Microsoft Hardware :  Microsoft has a number of Webcams and Headsets which can be used for Unified Communications.
     
  • Open Interoperability Program for Enterprise Telephony infrastructure : A Microsoft TechNET microsite dedicated to help customers find qualified SIP-PSTN gateways and IP-PBXs and the process for telephony infrastructure vendors to join and participate in the program.

  

The implementation of the Microsoft Unified Communications vision brings a unique opportunity for customers to integrate their business systems with the technology. Detailed information for developers can be found on the developer portal: Unified Communications Developer Portal:

For further information visit the Microsoft Unified Communications Microsite.