Microsoft and Avaya are working together to develop open standards, SIP-based interoperability between their solutions. Aimed at extending the rich capabilities of Microsoft applications to include voice capabilities, this joint initiative focuses on delivering a Unified Communications solution that allows people, teams and organizations to communicate simply and effectively using both Avaya and Microsoft applications seamlessly.

 

The power of the integrated Avaya and Microsoft solutions is presence. The presence status of users is available in Microsoft Office Communicator no matter where the conversation is taking place – on the office phone, at some remote or virtual location, or on a mobile device. The presence status is extended to other Microsoft applications so users can see integrated presence information and click to call while collaborating through a SharePoint application, reviewing an email from within Outlook 2003 or 2007, or accessing any other Microsoft application that supports Microsoft Smart Tags. This powerful capability embeds real time voice communications into the user’s workflow.

 

Office Communicator can be used in tandem with the desk phone for complete access to advanced capabilities.  Users can shift a call between the desk and mobile phone while a call is in progress; answer a colleague’s phone, record a conversation, and maximize the coordination between an assistant and a manager or information worker.  Working together, Avaya and Microsoft can maximize productivity, provide the highest levels of customer service, and reduce latency in workflow and business processes.

 

Communication Manager integrates with Office Communications Server 2007 through Avaya Applications Enablement Services.  Application Enablement Services provides an enhanced set of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), protocols and web services that expose the functionality of Avaya communication solutions to corporate application developers, 3rd party Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) and system integrators. Application Enablement Services is an open standards-based solution that runs on a Linux server.

 

Designed as an open, scalable, and highly reliable telephony solution, Communication Manager effectively scales from less than 100 users to as many as 36,000 on a single system and to more than one million users on a single network. In addition, it offers security and survivability for mission critical communications. The integration with Microsoft applications optimizes workforce productivity while providing support for E911, contact centers, and Communications Enabled Business Processes.  

 

Microsoft Office Communications Server (OCS) 2007 provides enterprise instant messaging, desktop presence, Voice over IP, and a number of other communication applications.