Communications Server 14 News

Right time for me to eat humble pie, my previous post about Communications Server "14" remaining nameless is wide of the mark.

Now I know that one of the beauties of blogging is that I could just change it or add an update. But I have decided to own my mistake - I feel it is only appropriate given the confusion that has surrounded CS14.

So we have Microsoft Lync 2010 and all of its benefits of IM, Enterprise voice, meeting capabilities and presence. The name Lync is meant to be a synergy of 'Link' and 'Sync' which reflects its ability to connect people in any way and from anywhere.

I just talked to an industry expert and he told me that this was an attempt by Microsoft to get back to the top of the tree as far as OS office and associated products are concerned.

He felt that the arrival of Communications Server is a return to the days of having fully reliable Microsoft products that do exactly what they say on the tin.
Many people in big business has been forced to drift away from MS products and then lose time and money learning how to use them.

And yes he believed that office workers will be weaned off expensive and time-consuming conferences now that web, audio and video-conferencing will be so easy.

There is more information about Microsoft Lync 2010 and how to download the release candidate here.

The speculation as to what the eventual name of Microsoft Communications Server "14" might be has refused to go away.
A blog post by TMCNet got excited about Microsoft Lync 2010. Could that be the new name for Communications Server "14"?

Although it is very similar to Communications Server "14", Microsoft Lync is the new web-based attendee meeting application which works from a browser to compliment your full Windows-based Communicator app. The obvious benefits of this are that you can host your own meetings because it acts as a client for online conferences.

Installing this application also allows non administrators to enter the conversation using communication tools such as audio VoIP, instant messaging and video.

Like Microsoft Communications Server "14" it also offers collaboration tools such as screen sharing, application sharing, attachments and PowerPoint presentations for multiple users.

But there is a new set of videos released to preview Communications Server "14":

IM and Presence for CS 14

Conferencing for CS14

Enterprise Voice for CS14

Platform Extensibility for CS14

High Definition for CS14

Client Extensibility for CS14

The latest Microsoft unified communications software is being released this year - Microsoft communications server “14”.
The product streamlines communications to make them more cost effective, but more open at the same time.

At a conference in Orlando, Florida, the corporate VP of Microsoft’s Office Communications Group, Gurdeep Singh Pall, gave a keynote address.
He predicted that Microsoft communications server “14” would lead the way in a future of connected communications.
Mr Pall said: “We have used software to leapfrog traditional hardware-bound communications systems and accelerate innovation in this industry.
“Office Communications Server has been very popular since it was introduced in 2007, allowing businesses to save costs and increase productivity. Microsoft communications server “14” will build on these attributes.”
Microsoft communications server “14” has a number of exciting new features. For instance, users can find colleagues based on what skills they have, know whether or not they are available to collaborate and bring together content and resources in a simple fashion.
Microsoft communications server “14” works with Microsoft SharePoint Server, Microsoft Office and Microsoft Exchange. It will have full enterprise telephony and allow communications to be embedded in applications. Another feature is Microsoft Office Communications Online which works in the cloud and on-premise to deliver presence and instant messaging.
Microsoft communications server “14” will be available from the second half of 2010.