Images: A look at Office Communications Server '14'

Among the capabilities of the upcoming Office Communications Server '14' is improved location information.

OCS 14 — the next version of Microsoft's business telephony, corporate instant messaging and presence server — is due out in the second half of the year.

With OCS 14, users can update their status at any time, with a list showing up in an activity feed, similar to what is available in consumer instant messaging.

Unlike in a traditional phone call, workers using OCS 14 will be able to enter a subject line — such as 'The Contoso Account', above — so a recipient knows why someone is calling before they answer.

A new menu lets workers choose which device to use for a call, such as a PC-connected headset or VoIP phone.

Although one of the benefits of integrated communications is not having to remember phone numbers, a dial pad in OCS 14 lets people call the old-fashioned way if they wish.

A 'simultaneous ring' feature lets a user choose, based on who is dialling, to have the calls ring in one location, more than one place, or go straight to voicemail.

A 'skill search' feature lets workers see who is available with particular skills./p>