OCS 2010 Gaining Industry and Media Attention
Filed under: OCS 2007 R2, OCS 2010, Unified Communications, Voice over IP
There's been a spate of news lately surrounding the recent VoiceCon unveiling of “Communications Server 14.” That's the development name for Office Communications Server 2010, the next version of Microsoft's OCS. I've collected some links below to illustrate what's being talked about.
Microsoft OCS Update Promises to Replace PBX - NetworkWorld. Discusses Communications Server 14's announcement at VoiceCon 2010 in Orlando. Mentions 14's most anticipated feature: the ability to replace the PBX as a primary voice communications system. It makes an important point about Microsoft's OCS strategy: they aren't manufacturing hardware for use with OCS (phones, VoIP gateways, etc.). They've just put forth required standards for manufacturers to meet.
Screen Shots: What's New in Microsoft OCS 14? - ZDNet. ZDNet's gone one further on this, providing a series of screenshots of the new OCS 14. Some of them depict tools currently available in OCS 2007 (like the Dial Pad and Presence status) but others are new. Notifications of voice mails waiting for you showing up in Communicator, for one. Choose which audio device you want to talk with (Bluetooth headset anyone?), for two. ZDNet's Mary-Jo Foley also posted a reaction to the OCS 2010 announcement.
Microsoft Office Communications Server: Reaching Critical Mass? - MSPMentor. This article points to a very important issue in unified communications - the question of hosted vs. on-site communication services. Which will win out in the market? What will the MSPs favor? (We like both here.)
Both Microsoft and Cisco are feuding over this space right now, so it's hard to say. But this is good information for those connected with Unified Communications in some form or another.
Time to Toss the PBX: Microsoft Unveils Office Communications Server '14' at VoiceCon - TMCNet. This last blog post goes into more detail on Microsoft CVP of Unified Communications Gurdeep Singh Pall's statements about moving “past” the PBX to OCS 2010. The notion is a bit ahead of the game; we're still very much in transition phase. But at least he's enthusiastic!
The author, Patrick Bernard, did mention something really interesting too - a software app that links up IP phones to OCS. AudioCodes is releasing SIP Phones Support (SPS) for Microsoft Unified Communications in July. Definitely a helpful step to moving more companies toward OCS.
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