Communications Server 14 News

The soon-to-be-released Communications Server “14” product by Microsoft will be more than just a PBX replacement and will have far-reaching Unified Communications properties.
Not only will enterprise Voice be among its key features but it will also offer integration with Microsoft SharePoint, conferencing and real-time collaboration. There will be a presence-based search facility too.
Furthermore Communications Server “14” will be easy to deploy. As well as having numerous servers including a front-end server and a back-end server, there will be a Director role which configures director server. The overall effect is to simplify the topologies of Communications Server “14”.
In Communications Server “14” a Central Management Store makes it possible to configure data from one location. Then there is the Microsoft Silverlight version 4 Web application - the Communications Server Control Panel. This new management interface replaces the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) as used in previous products.
In terms of VoIP capabilities, call resiliency, call park and E911 are some of the standout features.
There is also Media bypass which allows media traffic to bypass the Mediation Server and flow directly from Communications Server "14" to the IP-PBX or gateway.
These features and many more make Communications Server “14” more than just a PBX replacement.

How to set up a low cost IP phone with Microsoft Communications Server "14".



And here's the new PBX features for Microsoft Communications Server "14".

The new Microsoft Communications Server 14 product can replace your Phone Branch Exchange (PBX), but if you don’t want to upgrade it can also enhance the existing system.
In fact the Communications Server 14 benefits of audio/video web conferencing, instant messaging and VoIP telephony can all be added as unified communications solutions to your current infrastructure.
With its special interoperability, Communications Server 14 is easy to integrate into Microsoft Office and simple to deploy.
One option is for Communications Server 14 to be connected directly to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) via SIP Trunking or through a gateway. To do this your phone number is simply transferred to Communications Server 14.
Alternatively Communications Server 14 can be connected to your existing PBX. Using Communicator your system will then ring whenever the PBX rings. This is ideal for mobile or remote workers.
There is also a new Join From” feature where the user’s PBX phone is automatically rung to invite then to join a conference call.
However Microsoft has just seen some 70,000 customers use Communications Server 14 in place of their PBX. With its partners Aastra and Polycom Microsoft is also starting to roll out IP desktop phones as well as optimised USB devices.