Communicator 2007 Update

Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 was recently updated (as mentioned in the Microsoft KB article 954439 http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=954439) but the location of the hotfix itself has been a mystery to many - not any longer! ;)

Microsoft's sustained engineering folks need and want to track the download of the hotfix and in order to do so each person must request the hotfix at the following address:http://support.microsoft.com/hotfix/KBHotfix.aspx?kbnum=954439&kbln=en-us

The request is quick and easy and once the form is filled out a link to the download (and the password to decrypt the file) will be sent to your email generally within 5 minutes.

Office Communication Server 2007 R2 Announced

Office Communication Server (OCS) 2007 R2 has finally been announced. There are many great and new features that have been announced and the full link can be found here:

http://www.microsoft.com/communicationsserver/en/us/default.aspx

The big ticket items include:

  • 64-Bit Operating System Required (Windows 2003 sp2 or Windows 2008)
    • The migration process is just that - a migration - so you will have to install a 64-bit operating system, install OCS 2007 R2, and then import or migrate your users into the new OCS environment
  • Dial-in Audio Conferencing
    • Allows an external number to be called - a bridge number - so parties with only phone access can join a Live Meeting or a Conferencing Bridge
  • Group Chat
    • A persistent chat window, much like a newsgroup or forum, where individuals can ask questions, see past messaging, etc.
  • Secretary/Admin Console
    • Now one person can see and field calls using OC using the new Attendant Console. The admin will also be able to modify their delegate's status
  • Response Groups
    • Think of a call center or help desk - this feature will be a hunt group using variables defined by the admin per group
  • Single-number Reach
    • Allows a single number to automatically call on OC person based off of location and availability

As I see and hear more, you can find out about it here!