The forthcoming Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 (OCS 2007) represents the culmination of significant efforts by Microsoft to take hold of the enterprise unified communications space. The new converged communications platform, now in public beta, offers an array of presence, IM, VoIP, and videoconferencing features, as well as deep integration across the company's 2007 enterprise product line. This wide-scoping product could soon start displacing conventional enterprise telephony solutions.

New Look Unified Communications for 2007

OCS 2007 is the follow up to Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 (LCS 2005), a product that, while successfully deployed and operated by many, ultimately lacked the range to serve as a complete enterprise communications platform. With OCS 2007, Microsoft has built on its existing IM and presence capabilities and incorporated more comprehensive voice functionality and integration with Exchange Server 2007, Office 2007 and SharePoint Server 2007. As a result of these...