Parade of voice peripherals for Microsoft OCS 2007

Stuart Corner
Monday, 14 May 2007 12:40

Business IT - Technology

Microsoft and equipment manufacturers are set to unveil a range of telephone devices designed to work with the new Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007.

Office Communications Server 2007, released in beta in December 2006  incorporates voice functionality an represents Microsoft's first real step into enterprise telephone systems.

At the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) 2007, Microsoft and nine manufacturers - ASUSTek Computer In, GN, LG-Nortel, NEC, Plantronics, Polycom, Samsung, Tatung and ViTELiX - will introduce devices that connect the workplace phones to e-mail, instant messaging, real-time presence information, conferencing, VoIP and mobile communications.

The 15 phones and devices to be unveiled at WinHEC 2007 include IP phones, USB phones, wired and wireless headsets, conferencing phones, LCD monitors and laptops.

Microsoft has provided device manufacturers with design specifications to ensure that their devices work easily with Office Communications Server 2007 and Office Communicator 2007. It says that the resulting products are now nearing the end of the Microsoft qualification cycle, which will help ensure that they work 'out-of-the-box with Microsoft unified communications software.

Said Jeff Raikes, president of the Microsoft Business Division, "Today's office phone is marooned on an island, separate from the rest of the communications tools that information workers rely on to do their jobs. By weaving the business phone together with e-mail, instant messaging, presence, conferencing and the productivity software people use most, we are putting voice communications back into business."