Office Communicator: Here and There

If you are not aware, Microsoft released a new product - Office Communications Server 2007 (a.k.a OCS 2007). OCS 2007 offers instant messaging (IM), voice over internet protocol (VOIP) and desktop/application sharing for the corporate environment. The idea behind this new server - provide a new level of information sharing.

C/D/H has been using instant messaging for several years. We started using Microsoft’s Live Communications Server 2005 when it was in beta and quickly became dependent on IM to get technical details or just to keep in touch. When Microsoft released the new OCS 2007 we jumped into it full force and what we experienced was amazing.

Office Communications Server 2007 not only provided IM, but a new level of real-time communication. OCS 2007 allows us to share voice and video in real-time, our desktops or a single application wherever and whenever.

Real-time video and audio means we can use our computers as our desktop phones. Not only can we share video and voice. but if there is a need to share an application we can quickly do this too. I have used Live Meeting to allow other C/D/H consultants, located throughout the US, to assist me with troublesome issues with a click of a button.

But it doesn’t stop there. OCS has a client for Windows Mobile based devices. My cell phone is an HTC Touch which, as you guessed, is running Windows Mobile version 6. Now that I've loaded Office Communicator 2007 Mobile on my smart phone I am now able to IM others when I’m out and about. I have often IM’d while on the road (as a passenger), off to dinner, the store, wherever.

The true beauty with OCS 2007 Mobile is that it is not limited to Windows based smart phones. Last October Palm announced that their Palm based smart phones could also run the OCS 2007 mobile. Not to be outdone, Blackberry based smart phones also can support OCS 2007 communications.

In today’s businesses email is very important, but it doesn’t meet the needs to keep everyone on the same page. OCS fills the void email has, giving another way to share, talk or just reach out to another person. In the office or out of the office, OCS can keep you connected. Careful, you might just find that you enjoy work a little more

02 ttyl8tr (My two cents, talk to you later).