Why is Microsoft working with competitors to advance interoperability in unified communications?
Swift: Now more than ever, customers want software vendors to do a better job of making their products work together, so we’re responding to meet that demand. We also have a strong commitment to interoperability with other vendors because of our shared vision to make business communications a simple, person-centric experience that is not closed within a specific network or technology. For example, this vision can be seen in the work done by IBM in its recent update to the company’s Sametime Gateway, to allow Sametime users to exchange presence information and instant messages with Office Communications Server users. Microsoft is also working with Cisco to connect to Cisco’s Unified Communications Manager via Direct SIP connectivity with Office Communications Server 2007 R2. PressPass: What does the future look like for interoperability in unified communications? Swift: I’m excited about the progress we’re making in presence interoperability with PBX systems and other server-based appli
