IBM and Microsoft, two software industry giants, are offering similar yet different takes on Unified Communications (UC) for the enterprise. In 2007, the two vendors released their latest software-based UC platforms, IBM's Lotus Sametime 8 and Microsoft'sOffice Communications Server (OCS) 2007, solutions that deliver similar capabilities and leverage each vendor's notable industry presence and partnerships. However, several key differences between these UC platforms will be of interest to potential adopters.

A Crowded UC Market

Unified Communications (UC) essentially represents an opportunity for enterprises to streamline common workflows by deploying an enhanced end user communications toolset. UC platforms are designed to consolidate capabilities such as IP voice, video, presence, instant messaging (IM), and Web conferencing, and deliver these combined features to users through a common desktop interface. The idea is that richer capabilities and a simplified user experience are required to reduce bottlenecks and ultimately enable tighter integration between IP communications tools and core business processes.