Microsoft Reveals Communications Server W14

PBX's run away in fear!

The floor was buzzing this week at VoiceCon as Microsoft announced their next generation unified communications platform. Microsoft Communications Server "W14" will replace the current Office Communications Server 2007 R2. No date for RTM has been announced but based on all the third party announcements it's going to be sooner rather than later!

Also see Microsoft OCS update promises to replace PBX and The new Microsoft Office Communications Server is to feature e911 and improved voice recognition

There's so much to be excited about as Microsoft exploded with information. A thorn in the side of OCS 2007 R2 has been the lack of a decent conference phone or lobby phone solution. Polycom to the rescue. Here is a rendering of the conference phone solution:

Also announced was CAC, Call Adminission Control. This was the last bastian of hope for Cisco die-hards as they always knocked MS for not having it. This takes what might be their last arguement away. Combined with E911 support and a host of other PBX features, MCS is a legitimate PBX replacement solution. According to Gurdeep Singh Pall, MCS will cost 50% of a traditional PBX solution for a given number of users.

I can't wait for this to go live and I'm working with customers that are drooling over it already!

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• Office Communications Server
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