Microsoft readies next two versions of Office Communications Server
Microsoft is on tap to show off Office Communications Server Release 2 (R2) at the VoiceCon show in Amsterdam on October 14. And the company already is working on the follow-on release, which will likely be timed with Office 14.
OCS R2 is the next version 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 will be a 64-bit only release. From Gibbons' October 6 post:
"There will be a new version (of OCS) announced in November 2008 and released in January 2009, this will be *Office Communications Server 2007 R2*and one major difference will be it’s transition to a 64bit ONLY platform a la Exchange 2007. This version 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 Office 14:
"There will then be a completely new version-OCS 2009/2010 (probably 2010)-released to coincide with the availability of Office 14. This along with the expected release of SharePoint 2010, will help bring a more unified feel to the Office family. It is also expected that this new version 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. Company officials have not provided an update on when it's due to ship. Last anyone heard, Microsoft was shooting for late 2009 for Office 14. If the next release of OCS really is timed to coincide with Office 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 in the original Unified Communications wave in the fall of 2007, but in the R2 build, it should be here. What to expect is not to say, but as I understand it will 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, 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' which 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, 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....