* Microsoft shores up third-party support for Live Communications Server
Microsoft has come out with support for unified communications in a big way with its Live Communications Server portfolio. Traditional telephony suppliers, including Alcatel, Avaya, Cisco, Genesys, Mitel, NEC, Nortel and Siemens, have announced or have already integrated Microsoft’s LCS platform with their respective IP telephony systems, although most of these vendors have their own UC platforms as well.
The Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 (Enterprise Edition) is designed to work with Microsoft Office Communicator and is architected for integration with third-party SIP-based IP-PBX systems.
In a nutshell, LCS is a presence engine that offers integration with a host of other applications. It offers a range of real-time features, including:
* Instant messaging (public-, private-, and extranet-based IM).
* Microsoft’s Live Meeting integration.
* Active Directory integration.
* Microsoft Outlook-driven and SIP-based presence monitoring (to offer features like follow-me/find me and calendar-based call routing).
* PBX/PSTN call routing integration.
* Multiple party white-boarding and application sharing.
* Microsoft Office Communicator integration.
Microsoft’s Office Communicator includes features like:
* PC-to-PC phone and video conversations/sessions.
* PC-to-phone communications.
* PBX call initiation.
* Reservationless audio conferencing.
* Caller ID/Call Waiting ID.
* Click-to-dial.
* Follow-me/find-me.
Given Microsoft’s dominant position with desktop software and (arguably) server software, Microsoft’s UC platform and architectural approach to real time communications is well positioned to succeed.
For more detailed information on LCS and Office Communicator, click here.
Next time, we’ll report in from GlobalComm.
