Microsoft pushes seamless communications

Microsoft claims it wants to create applications that break down the barriers between voice, text and video to enable more seamless communication.

At the CeBIT trade show in Hanover on Tuesday, Microsoft chief operating officer Kevin Turner said Microsoft would aim to provide applications that enable combined voice, text and video communications.

"Mobility is leading to an important shift in lifestyle technology and this is an important part of our strategy," said Turner. "A transformation has started in communication. At the moment, it's a constant struggle to keep track of multiple emails flowing across multiple devices, and people have different work and mobile [phone] numbers. New software innovations will eliminate those boundaries. We can have more conversations with seamless voice, text and video, with more control over who you can reach."

Microsoft will also develop Web 2.0 technologies, including online collaborative and customer-interaction software, said Turner.

"New technologies will change the way we interact, which is creating opportunities and pain for IT departments," said Turner. "People using wikis at home expect to use the same in the office. Collaborative software is instantly accessible — calendar, email and custom apps used at work will provide new opportunities to collaborate with customers. Microsoft will provide [businesses with] new apps to collaborate with customers."

Microsoft also said it would continue to develop its business-intelligence offerings, which include elements of SQL Server, Microsoft Server and Microsoft Office System client tools.

"Today a new generation of software management has opened the door to enable intelligent decision-making," said Turner. "The key is technology that can take a comprehensive [approach] to managing the data lifecycle. Microsoft is committed to delivering that technology. We want to eliminate the barriers between people, information and systems."

Turner also said that Microsoft would continue its virtualisation product development, following its launch last week of Windows Server 2008 and the announcement of Hyper-V.

"Virtualisation is a very important technology that promises to have a significant impact on what IT delivers to business," said Turner. "It simplifies systems management. Data centres can have multiple servers controlled by one console. Workloads can be moved dynamically to provide greater agility and more efficient use of resources. It saves a lot of money. We will offer products that redeploy server workloads."