Conversationware

An excellent post, as usual, linked here from mike Gotta, on the his view of the likely progress of Microsoft OCS and the status of key components.

A balanced view which adds value to whatever else we’ve seen in the last week.

This linked article at eweek about Microsoft UC wasn’t astounding in any way apart from the claim that

“In fact, Microsoft has replaced its old voice mail system with Exchange Server 2007 unified messaging, a move that is saving the company $5 million a year through lowered hardware and maintenance costs, he said.”

Bill Gates talking, apparently.

I understand that Microsoft doesn’t have to pay 29% for it’s own software renewal scheme, and therefore probably isn’t inidicative of the available savings for everyone else, but even so. $5 million saving in costs. For voicemail.

A few questions spring to mind

How many people does Microsoft have? 

Are there any employees left in America for any other companies?

Did the diamond embedded voicemail company ever need to sell any other systems?

With that account lost, does the salesman now have to come back out of retirement, and can he show his face after that last lease agreement?

And, do journalists ever ask for details to back up major sponsor’s claims, and is it necessary?

When we speak, in business, we are (usually) looking to achieve something.

UC technology helps us achieve more stuff, allowing us to speak to each other when we’re not in the same room, and by giving us extra tools like email attachments and multiperson multimedia conferencing to speed up the process.

When we communicate, if we can’t instantly move things on to completion, then we’re entering into an ongoing conversation…..and that could span days, months and even years.

These days, we have more of them, and they include more people

The thing is, in itself, UC doesn’t help all that much with the better organising of our multiplying conversations (meaning activities in common) - it more often means we just have more and richer ways of having them.

Even with all the tools being easier to use, you realise that the conversations still have to happen, and that there is loads still to do. You often can’t do more than one thing at once (fellas), so we have to get smarter, or at least incorporate tools that make us look that way.

For instance, Google desktop search makes me look good, for free, so thanks goes to them.

Similarly, being able to see at a glance which conversations have moved on whilst you were busy, or absent, and more usefully, being able to dip into colleagues’ previous conversations, is the promise of Parlano - which is soon to be incorporated into the Microsoft promise too blog by Nick Fera, the boss. Congratulations to them . I’m looking forward to seeing that as part of OCS.

This interview by Microsoft Watch with Lee Nicholls, Global Solutions Director for Getronics, gives a channel partner’s view of the convergence/collision between the two approaches to UC. Getronics are big partners of both of the (Unified Communications) giants.

Some good candid advice to companies who use both providers. It’s twenty minutes and worthwhile, although the interview starts playing as soon as the page opens!

Good Stuff

Hey Ewan

A neat post on the joys of using OCS for the first time. Thanks for the insight.

Only a small point, but I wondered why you would need to call your voicemail system? Surely you would have a voicemail within email, and you’d just click to listen?

It’s late, so I may have missed something simple.

Matt

The age of ‘Presence’ is on us, with the requisite promises of unlimited contact potential.

A couple of Microsoft attributed quotes lately on the subject

For example, many of the features implemented in a PBX are intended to ensure that calls are not missed and/or do not end up in voicemail: so-called “find-me, follow-me” features. Unified communications uses a fundamentally different paradigm to address the underlying customer need

And another one

Presence based communications: you only attempt to communicate with someone who is advertising their willingness and ability to communicate with you at any given moment

OK, so, I can see the point. Instant messaging is a great overlay, and will give us the very important ability to know if someone is available at their desk.

So, wouldn’t it be neat if Unified Communications could tell me if you’re on the phone? (more…)