Microsoft will make its new enterprise voice communications server available to 2,500 companies under a private beta program on Dec. 11.
The product, which will be known as Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007, brings with it the ability for companies to integrate VOIP (voice over IP) technology into existing telephony infrastructure, Chris Cullin, the director of product management in Microsoft’s Unified Communications Group, told eWEEK.
This server is also the successor to Microsoft Live Communications Server 2005, and forms part of Microsoft’s unified communications portfolio.
“It brings with it voice and conferencing capabilities for on-premise voice, video and Web conferencing, and integrates them together at the application layer for a unified user experience,” Cullin said.
“It also provides a single applications infrastructure, a single point of administration and configuration, and a single directory, for the IT professional.”
Earlier this year, Microsoft announced its unified communications vision and roadmap going forward, where executives talked about introducing voice technologies to its current lineup, developing new products and expanding the unified communications features its current products provide.
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,2071184,00.asp?kc=EWRSS04069TX1K0000701
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Video networking was a major theme on the first day of the Cisco Systems C-Scape Conference, as company executives outlined their strategy and vision for the future of networking.
Cisco has designs to be a significant player in the video on demand as well as IP TV transmission markets, and it intends to revive the moribund video conferencing market with its recently launched Cisco Telepresence next-generation video conferencing technology.
“Telepresence is my favorite new technology. It will save me $140 million off our run rate on travel next year,” said CEO John Chambers in his talk at the conference on Dec. 12.
Chambers is so bullish on its promise that Cisco will roll out the technology to 120 sites in 2007. “It will change way we collaborate and allow us to communicate as effectively [as being in the same room] or more when people are not changing time zones,” he said.
Chief development officer and president of the Linksys unit Charlie Giancarlo in his talk echoed Chambers optimistic remarks on video networking.
“We may get to be known as a video company,” he said.
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,2071827,00.asp?kc=EWRSS04069TX1K0000701
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