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Microsoft's Unified Communications Play: Page 4 of 5

The IM system lacks persistent group chat, in which group chat sessions are preserved in a chat room so that users can refer back to old conversations. To address this hole, Microsoft purchased MindAlign from Parlano to provide this feature. It should be integrated into a future version of OCS, perhaps a year from now.

Don't Forget VoIP
Voice is a critical component of a unified communications platform. OCS can link to your VoIP PBX and enable employee PCs to act as VoIP soft phone. Users will require either a USB headset or the speakers and microphone built into the computer. Microsoft is partnering with PBX providers including Alcatel, Avaya, Cisco, Ericson, Mytel, NEC, Nortel and Siemens, to make sure the Communicator client can make and receive calls over your existing VoIP system.

You have three VoIP options with OCS. First, the OCS Mediation Server and a PSTN gateway allow you to make outbound calls, requiring a voice PRI or a direct SIP connection to your PBX. Second, you can connect your PBX and handsets to the Mediation Server. Third, you can make workstations into SIP clients and make calls through Mediation Server to your VoIP PBX.

The Mediation Server we tested worked very well with a PSTN. Inbound and outbound calls had excellent clarity. We also tested Communicator as a soft phone and hooked it up to our Cisco VoIP PBX through Mediation server, using SIP. This required a good deal of trial and error; you'll need detailed knowledge of your VoIP PBX and SIP to make it work. However, once we were able to get Communicator to connect, we were able to place calls much as we would from our Cisco desk phones.

Note that advanced features such as the ability to transcribe voicemail to text-based e-mail require Exchange 2007.