* Code completed for OCS 2007 and Office Communicator
Microsoft’s Business Division, announced late last month at the company’s financial analyst conference that Office Communications Server 2007 and Office Communicator code have been completed and that the software has been “released to manufacturing” – moving the package one step closer to public launch. Microsoft’s next step is to “localize the software for worldwide availability.”
The system provides enterprise-grade presence, software-powered VoIP, Web conferencing and instant messaging. The Office Communications Server has been in beta test since March and according to Gurdeep Singh Pall, vice president of Microsoft’s Unified Communications Group, more than 75,000 people have downloaded the public beta version. More than 50 companies have been announced as ecosystem partners participating in the development and delivery of the Microsoft unified communications platform.
In a statement, Pall said: “We’re delivering on the strategy we outlined last year and are on track to launch this next wave of Microsoft’s unified communications software in the fall.” Pall noted that Microsoft had worked closely with beta customers to incorporate their suggestions.
Prices for the system are based on both server and client access licenses and licenses are based on the user’s choice of “Standard” and “Enterprise” license type. The Standard user license includes instant messaging and presence features and costs $21 for the “average enterprise.” The new Enterprise type provides new conferencing and VoIP call management features and is priced at $97 per client access license for the average enterprise.
Concurrent with the progress announcement, Microsoft has made an ROI calculator available to help enterprise predict ROI results of deploying the unified communications system, along with a white paper that discusses different ROI considerations. The white paper and more information on Microsoft’s plans and progress can be found here.
Further reading: From Microsoft Subnet: What’s Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007?
