Examining Microsoft's Unified Communications Strategy

Executive Summary:

The main products comprising Microsoft's unified communications (UC) initiative are Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, Microsoft Office Communications Server (OCS) 2007, Microsoft Office Communicator, Microsoft Office OneNote, Microsoft Office Live Meeting, and Microsoft Office RoundTable. Microsoft Office Communicator is the primary Microsoft Office Communications Server (OCS) 2007 client application. Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 is the core messaging and calendaring program of Microsoft's UC platform.

Microsoft has been making a lot of noise recently about its new unified communications (UC) product line. In January 2006, Microsoft merged the Exchange product group with the Real-Time Communications (RTC) group to form the Unified Communications Group (UCG). UCG now owns Exchange (and Exchange-related products, such as the Exchange Hosted Services family), Microsoft Office Live Communications Server (LCS) 2005, and Microsoft Office Communications Server (OCS) 2007. The merge indicates that Microsoft is moving to a model where Microsoft Exchange, OCS, and other collaboration and communications products are positioned as part of a unified platform. As UC takes hold, Microsoft Exchange professionals may well find their job duties expanding to include not just Exchange, but areas such as IP telephony and collaboration—so it's important to keep an eye on what's happening with UC. With the recent release of Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, which has better support for UC than any of its predecessors, and upcoming release of OCS 2007, it's time to evaluate Microsoft's UC strategy. . . .