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My article is up on Microsoft "Next Hop"
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Next Hop is a Microsoft TechNet portal dedicated to Unified Communications, specifically Office Communications Server. Articles are written by the Microsoft product groups, experienced field engineers, MVPs and in this case ME!
I asked (begged) if Dr. Rez if he would consider a new contributor and my wish was granted. Check out my article, entitled "Unified Communications and Its Impact on IT and the Business from Delivery to a Year and Beyond".
Thanks - Dr. Rez and Susan Bradley
Next Hop Homepage - here
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Exchange Team posts part 2 of "Call Answering Rules" for Exchange 2010
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Exchange (and Outlook) is the conduit whereby users can access new e-mail, contacts, calendar, news (RSS), voicemail (Exchange Unified Messaging) and presence (via OCS and your Communicator client).
Exchange 2010 extends the unified messaging functionality by offering the end user more control over call answering, this is achieved by adding a free/busy aware rule based system. In essence you (the user) have the capability to setup your own "follow-me" service, not too dissimiliar from Google Voice.
In a recent blog post this functionality is looked at in greater detail.
Source: here
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Video: How Microsoft IT deployed Unified Communications
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Check out an interesting video on how Microsoft's own IT department deployed Office Communications Server 2007 R2 and views from key members of staff. The post-UC views expressed within the video are definately shared by the organisation I work for.
Taken from TechNet Edge:
Unified Communications at Microsoft supports over 40,000 users. Multiple communications tools such as e-mail, Instant Messaging, voice mail, voice, and presence are delivered in a unified experience which is available anywhere. Because multiple and disparate communication systems have been consolidated and in sourced onto a single solution, the ability to manage and measure the environment is enhanced.
Source: here
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Interested in an OCS 2010 sneak peek?
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Of course you are! For those who are not already aware, Microsoft are attending the upcoming UC Expo in Olympia, London. Brett Johnson, a technical lead in the Microsoft Unified Communications group, will present an early preview of OCS Wave 14 (aka OCS 2010), this session (Wednesday 10th March 11:50 AM - 12:20 PM) is rumoured to take place "two weeks earlier than the official public beta launch".
For UC enthusiasts in the UK, I have seen Brett present Exchange and OCS previously and I have no doubt that this will be a show to not be missed - see you there!
For more information on the up and coming OCS release, read my previous posts.
Source: here
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R.I.P. Innovative Communications Alliance (ICA)
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Previously I mentioned that during the "integrated roadmap" announcement there was continued collaboration with Microsoft technologies, I had mistaken this to mean that the existing agreement (entered back in July 2006 and expected to terminate this July) would continue and possibly renew. However only 2 days since the AvayaN strategy was announced the ICA site (and my case study!) was taken down. This now re-directs to a Microsoft Gold Partner page within the existing Avaya site.
When I asked Avaya for more information on this, the following statement was released:
"The ICA relationship ceased with the Avaya acquisition of Nortel Enterprise Solutions. ICA was based on a four year contract between Nortel and Microsoft that was already scheduled to expire within the year. Avaya has and will continue to work closely with Microsoft to ensure tight integration between our solutions providing customers the greatest flexibility in deploying UC solutions. Current customers with Microsoft OCS integrations with Nortel solutions can continue to utilize their solution as they do today. Avaya is a Microsoft Gold development partner and has been integrating with Microsoft products across their portfolio for well over a decade - including Windows, Active Directory, Exchange, Outlook, Internet Explorer, Office, CRM, and, of course, OCS and Office Communicator. These integrations are important customer requirements that we are committed to continuing. We understand the somewhat more competitive situation that Microsoft has established, but Avaya has a lot of experience of working with competitors to ensure integration and interoperability to meet our customers' business needs.
We believe that the combination of Avaya communications with Microsoft OCS and Office products is the most powerful end-to-end solution for Microsoft customers in the market, and are continuing to invest and enhance all our solutions in this area. "
Shame...but not surprising, especially given the threat that OCS brings to the traditional PABX vendors. I'd imagine it would be unlikely for this agreement to be re-established.