Office 2010 Product Key Microsoft readies next two

Microsoft is on tap to display off Office Communications Server Release 2 (R2) in the VoiceCon indicate in Amsterdam on October 14. And the corporation currently is working on the follow-on release, that will most likely be timed with Office 14.
OCS R2 may be the subsequent version of Microsoft’s integrated instant-messaging/conferencing server. It is one of the centerpieces of the company’s unified-communications stable of products.
(I have asked Microsoft repeatedly for more details about OCS R2 and other pieces of its future unified-communications line-up, but was told it wasn’t time yet. I guess it’s still not time. I asked again today and no response.)
One independent blogger — who seemingly had more luck than I did getting info on OCS R2 — recently noted that OCS R2 will most likely ship in January 2009. Blogger Richard Gibbons confirmed what I’ve heard from a couple of other folks: That R2 are going to be a 64-bit only release. From Gibbons’ October 6 post:
“There might be a new edition (of OCS) announced in November 2008 and released in January 2009, this might be *Office Communications Server 2007 R2*and one major difference shall be it’s transition to a 64bit ONLY platform a la Exchange 2007. This edition will transpose your voicemails to text so you can still access them even if in a meeting (or the quiet car of a train..) among other new features.
“OCS 2007 R2 will also have more Telephony style features including the ability to hunt groups.”
Gibbons also said he believes Microsoft has another OCS release on tap that will coincide with Workplace 14:
“There will then be a completely new version-OCS 2009/2010 (very likely 2010)-released to coincide together with the availability of Office 14. This in addition to the expected release of SharePoint 2010, will help bring a more unified feel to the Office family. It is also expected that this new edition will contain inbuilt translation services so if you receive an email in say Spanish, Exchange can read it back to you in English.”
(Microsoft is expected to start alpha-testing Workplace 14 in November. Firm officials have not provided an update on when it’s due to ship. Last anyone heard, Microsoft was shooting for late 2009 for Workplace 14. If the following release of OCS really is timed to coincide with Workplace 14, maybe Workplace 14 is going to hit in 2010…. Just a guess on my part, though.)
Another blogger,Office 2007 Enterprise, the “the UC guy,Office 2007 Enterprise,” added more information in an October 12 blog post about what to expect in OCS R2:
“The most exiting feature, could be the ‘one number calling’ concept. It has been introduced inside original Unified Communications wave inside the fall of 2007,Office 2010, but while in the R2 build, it should be here. What to expect is not to say, but as I understand it will likely be a more simplified process of calling UC enabled users. I expect there to be more logic in OCS to how one person can be contacted.
“LiveMeetin(g) dial-in is another requested feature, which should allow users to have a choice of using the LiveMeeting client audio or dialing direct to the meeting to get Audio access.
We will see more presence information in more applications
“The Communicator Web Access would be upgraded to allow application sharing the within the web application (however this is done…..)
“We are also looking at an ‘attendant console’ which will be some kind of switchboard for forwarding calls and so on. This is a feature often used by a front desk or service desk, and will give them the joy of presence information and VoIP.
“Also a telephony queue system should be included,Office 2010 Product Key, and will give people dialing in to the system, access to a touchtone menu to have their calls forwarded to the right department/person and so on.”
Microsoft has been testing OCS R2 privately for the past few months. Since the UC Guy notes, it seems a little late for Microsoft to be releasing a public beta at this point,Windows 7 Ultimate Key, but perhaps that’s what’s on tap for November….