Within a week of the global launch, Microsoft has announced availability of its Unified Communications (UC) software in India. The company claims UC will greatly streamline workplace communication, and reduce the cost of the average corporate VoIP system.

The new Unified Communications (UC) and VoIP software comprises: Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007, Microsoft Office Communicator, Microsoft Office Live Meeting, and the Service Pack Update of Microsoft Exchange Server 2007.

The new business software is intended to help employees within organizations communicate and collaborate through emails, phone calls, instant messaging, and video conferencing via devices including computers, cell phones, and even public phones.

Announcing the launch, Eric Swift, senior director (Unified Communications Group) of Microsoft, said, "Unified Communications software will redefine the way organizations communicate and collaborate both in India, and around the world."

Sanjay Manchanda, director (Information Worker Business Group) of Microsoft India, said, "As businesses expand their geographical footprint and grow employee strength, we believe a Unified Communications solution will become an integral tool to ensure anytime anywhere access, and will significantly impact organizational productivity."

Since the UC solution leverages existing IT and telephony infrastructure instead of ripping it apart, it is expected to generate substantial cost savings to customers and in turn, companies.

Incidentally, Microsoft's India-based development center (MIDC) has played a huge role in developing the latest solution, having already filed over five patents in the process. And, more than 100 employees at the center have contributed towards providing Microsoft's Instant Messenger (IM) over phone.

To add to this, Microsoft has announced its Unified Communications Open Interoperability, which is a telephony system qualification program to give customers assurance that the UC solution is workable with their existing telephony systems.