Microsoft is on tap to show off Office Communications Server Release 2 (R2) at the VoiceCon show in Amsterdam on October 14. As well as the organization currently is functioning around the follow-on release,
Office 2007 Pro Plus Key, which will most likely be timed with Office 14.
OCS R2 will be the next edition of Microsoft’s integrated instant-messaging/conferencing server. It is one of the centerpieces of the company’s unified-communications stable of products.
(I have asked Microsoft repeatedly for more details about OCS R2 and other pieces of its future unified-communications line-up, but was told it wasn’t time yet. I guess it’s still not time. I asked again today and no response.)
One independent blogger — who seemingly had more luck than I did getting info on OCS R2 — recently noted that OCS R2 will likely ship in January 2009. Blogger Richard Gibbons confirmed what I’ve heard from a couple of other folks: That R2 could be a 64-bit only release. From Gibbons’ October 6 post:
“There will probably be a new version (of OCS) announced in November 2008 and released in January 2009, this will probably be *Office Communications Server 2007 R2*and one major difference would be it’s transition to a 64bit ONLY platform a la Exchange 2007. This edition will transpose your voicemails to text so you can still access them even if in a meeting (or the quiet car of a train..) among other new features.
“OCS 2007 R2 will also have more Telephony style features including the ability to hunt groups.”
Gibbons also said he believes Microsoft has another OCS release on tap that will coincide with Workplace 14:
“There will then be a completely new version-OCS 2009/2010 (perhaps 2010)-released to coincide with the availability of Office 14. This together with the expected release of SharePoint 2010, will help bring a more unified feel to the Workplace family. It is also expected that this new edition will contain inbuilt translation services so if you receive an email in say Spanish, Exchange can read it back to you in English.”
(Microsoft is expected to start alpha-testing Office 14 in November. Firm officials have not provided an update on when it’s due to ship. Last anyone heard,
Genuine Office 2010, Microsoft was shooting for late 2009 for Workplace 14. If the next release of OCS really is timed to coincide with Workplace 14, maybe Office 14 is going to hit in 2010…. Just a guess on my part, though.)
Another blogger, the “the UC guy,” added more information in an October 12 blog post about what to expect in OCS R2:
“The most exiting feature, is the ‘one number calling’ concept. It has been introduced inside original Unified Communications wave during the fall of 2007, but from the R2 build, it should be here. What to expect is not to say,
Office 2007 Download, but as I understand it is going to be a more simplified process of calling UC enabled users. I expect there to be more logic in OCS to how one person can be contacted.
“LiveMeetin(g) dial-in is another requested feature,
Office 2007 Professional Key, which should allow users to have a choice of using the LiveMeeting client audio or dialing direct to the meeting to get Audio access.
We will see more presence information in more applications
“The Communicator Web Access will be upgraded to allow application sharing the within the web application (however this is done…..)
“We are also looking at an ‘attendant console’ that will be some kind of switchboard for forwarding calls and so on. This is a feature often used by a front desk or service desk, and will give them the joy of presence information and VoIP.
“Also a telephony queue system should be included,
Windows 7 sale, and will give people dialing in to the system, access to a touchtone menu to have their calls forwarded to the right department/person and so on.”
Microsoft has been testing OCS R2 privately for the past few months. As the UC Guy notes, it seems a little late for Microsoft to be releasing a public beta at this point, but perhaps that’s what’s on tap for November….
Office 2007 Professional Key Microsoft readies nex
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