Microsoft recently announced Office Communications Server 2007 R2 at VoiceCon in Amsterdam. Features include:
- Integration of persistent group chat (came out of Parlano acquisition).
- Attendant console and delegation – allows for an administrative assistant to triage calls.
- Audioconferencing bridge – allows for IT departments to manage their own on-prem dial-in audioconferencing bridges.
- Desktop sharing – allows for users of Office Communicator to share desktop and communicate with users outside the firewall.
As was the case with Exchange 2007, Microsoft has decided to make OCS 2007 R2 64-bit only, which means an in-place upgrade will not be possible.
For those interested in learning more, Microsoft has provided a virtual launch Web site. Public launch will be in February 2009.
... David Sengupta