Microsoft is merging its Exchange and Real-Time Collaboration (RTC) groups into a new unit called the Unified Communications Group, the company announced Monday. The change is aimed at aligning development work on Microsoft's e-mail platform with that done around other communications systems like instant messaging, Web conferencing and phone/VOIP (voice over Internet Protocol).
The new Unified Communications Group will be led by Anoop Gupta, who is currently the corporate vice president of Microsoft's RTC unit. The new group will be part of Microsoft's Business Division, overseen by Jeff Raikes.
Microsoft said the restructuring won't affect existing product plans or release schedules. The next version of Exchange, Microsoft's e-mail and collaboration system, is aimed at a late 2006 or early 2007 launch, while a closely watched RTC product, Speech Server 2007, is scheduled for a late-2006 release.
Although their development teams will now be aligned, Exchange, Live Communications Server and other software products will remain stand-alone offerings, Microsoft said.
Read up on the latest ideas and technologies from companies that sell hardware, software and services. How to improve employee productivity in small and medium businesses
Business Intelligence and Enterprise Performance Management: Trends for Emerging Businesses
Refresh your AUP: Top tips to ensure your acceptable use policy is fit for purpose
IT Service Management Needs and Adoption Trends: An Analysis of a Global Survey of IT Executives
Delivering the Power of Choice with Microsoft Dynamics CRM
Email Archiving Implementation: Five Costly Mistakes to Avoid
Best Practice in Building an Integrated Information Management Strategy
CRM your salespeople will love
Zones provide focussed content from Computerworld and leading technology partners.Discover how SOA can create smarter outcomes for your business.
Attend and learn:
- How SOA is helping leading companies to become more agile
- Where you should be applying SOA processes in your company
- The top SOA implementation mistakes to avoid
Click here for more information.
- +
Computerworld Live Podcast #97: The Future of Enterprise Networking 25/07/2008 09:45:36
This week CW Live chats with Mark Thompson, global sales and marketing manager for HP ProCurve, on the future of the enterprise networking. Mark discusses the trends we can expect to see in the near future and how the right infrastructure can ensure your enterprise network is secure. - +
Computerworld Live Podcast #96: Security at the Edge 11/06/2008 09:22:22
CW Live speaks with Amol Mitra, HP ProCurve Director of Marketing for Asia Pacific and Japan. Today's topic: how enterprises are starting to shift away from simply controlling security via server logins, firewalls and moving to more adaptive security frameworks. - +
Data Management Edition #10: Multi-Petascale Systems 02/05/2008 09:12:33
This week we look at sustainability and the development of multicore technologies to build multi-petascale systems. - +
IT Security Edition #11: How to poison the Storm botnet 01/05/2008 08:51:55
This week CW Live presents a case study on how to poison the notorious Storm botnet . Plus we take a look at Cisco's plans for Ironport. - +
IT Security Edition #10: Cyber-battles fought and won 24/04/2008 11:09:47
Vendors bow to end user pressure to improve product security, and we take a look at the latest concepts shaping the cyber-battlefield of the future.
Virtual magic: HR specialist throws out 40 servers, adds 8TB SAN and saves $100,000 for disaster recovery 2008-12-01 15:28:00+11
Sybiz adds up for SMEs in downturn 2008-12-01 14:27:00+11
EXCOM scores back-to-back award trifecta 2008-12-01 10:46:00+11
Citect extends SCADA networks with mobility solutions 2008-12-01 09:48:00+11
Citect extends SCADA networks with mobility solutions 2008-12-01 09:48:00+11
IT Service Management Needs and Adoption Trends: An Analysis of a Global Survey of IT Executives
IT executives face the need to improve service delivery with limited resource increases. Two common strategies for achieving this are network and systems management tools and datacenter consolidation. Read on to disocover how you can make a strong business case for IT Consolidation.











