Gets close to Motorola for mobile
At a big shindig in San Francisco Microsoft has been “unveiling” its strategy for “Unified Communications.” Most of the announcements will be made around its Microsoft Office system 2007 series of products, and will include a “strategic partnership” with Motorola to extend Microsoft’s Unified Communications suite to certain Motorola devices and software.
Microsoft wants to use the different elements of its platforms to create a vision of Unified Communications, combining the following elements:
• Office Communications Server 2007, SIP platform that enables presence-based VoIP call management; audio-, video- and webconferencing; and instant messaging.
• Exchange Server 2007, which Microsoft is marketing as a unified inbox that includes e-mail, voice mail and faxing functionality, as well as new capabilities such as a speech-based auto attendant.
• Office Communicator 2007, a client that works with Office Communications Server 2007 to deliver a presence-based, enterprise VoIP “softphone”; instant messaging that allows for intercompany federation and connectivity to public instant messaging networks; one-to-one and multiparty video- and audioconferencing; and webconferencing. As with the previous versions, Office Communicator 2007 will be available in desktop, browser-based and Windows Mobile®-based versions.
• Microsoft Office Live Meeting, a conferencing service updates to include support for e-learning, enhanced audio and video capabilities including VoIP, a streamlined user interface, seamless integration with the Microsoft Office system and simpler deployment.
• Microsoft Office RoundTable, an audio-video collaboration device with a 360-degree camera.
• Microsoft Office Communicator phone experience, Communicator-based software designed to run a set of new voice and video devices — including business-enabled IP desktop phones — from Polycom, LG-Nortel and Thomson Telecom. This system is designed to run on dedicated communications devices in tandem with Office Communications Server 2007 .
Motorola agreement
Microsoft also announced new business alliances with HP, Motorola and Siemens. HP will provide hardware devices and systems integration services. Motorola will deliver mobile devices and network hardware based on Office Communications Server 2007 and Office Communicator Mobile. Siemens will work on the integration of telephony, audio-, video- and webconferencing, instant messaging and e-mail into a single unified platform.
Motorola’s initial involvement will start with its rugged HC700 series and Q smart phone, combining Communications Server 2007 with Windows Mobile 5.0-based devices,by integrating Microsoft Office Communicator Mobile with Motorola’s MOTOPROMobility Suite and Wireless Services Manager (WSM) products.
“With this strategic alliance, Motorola and Microsoft intend to bring seamless mobility to unified communications, extending the benefits of enhanced collaboration to the world’s increasingly mobile and global work force,” said John DeFeo, corporate vice president of Enterprise Products at Motorola.
“Integrating Microsoft’s leading unified communications platform with the unique ‘push-to’ and seamless multinetwork handoff capabilities enabled by Motorola will provide a best-in-class experience for mobile users.”