Software-powered VoIP is the foundation of the Microsoft unified communications platform. This software-based approach offers every customer and developer an extensible platform with rich APIs to build communications-enabled business processes.
Communications-enabled business processes based on the Microsoft unified communications platform offer businesses three ways to increase productivity:
Contextual collaboration allows people to communicate efficiently. Microsoft's APIs allow you to build click-to-communicate capabilities into any software that customers use on a daily basis. With a single click, the user can e-mail, instant message (IM), call, or share applications. The Microsoft enhanced presence shows the user, at a glance, not only whether their contact is available, but also which communication mode is most appropriate. And when users start a conversation, they can use the software to share whatever content they would like to talk about via data or application sharing.
Business Process Communications reduce human delay in business processes because the Microsoft unified communications platform allows computers to contact people who are needed for a decision at the right moment. Notifications can alert such decision makers that a business process needs their intervention. The notifications are distributed via the highly scalable communications platform using any channel the Microsoft unified communications platform offers, depending on the enhanced presence status of the person to be contacted. So, the notification can use a broadcast IM, or an outbound phone call, where Microsoft speech technology automatically tells what decision is pending and allows natural speech.
Anywhere access capabilities in the Microsoft unified communications platform allow people to interact with computers via natural speech using the telephone or IM in a fully automated way. Such automated self-service applications, like Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems or automated agents (a.k.a. response bots), can save businesses money by using sophisticated speech technology to eliminate the need for expensive staff to answer routine questions.
The Microsoft unified communications platform sets itself apart because it is software-based and uses standard computers and networking and because it is an enterprise-grade platform that offers built-in security features, like encrypted communications, great scalability and robustness, and familiar tools for IT professionals to deploy.
Given that the Microsoft unified communications products are built on the same platform that Microsoft offers to developers, it is easier to add new features compared to hardware-based communications systems.
For developers, it is easier to build software on the Microsoft unified communications platform because Microsoft offers familiar application programming interfaces (like .NET or Web Services), and powerful Visual Studio–based tools (like Windows Workflow Activities), combined with a vibrant developer community greatly aided by the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) at http://msdn.microsoft.com/ocdev. MSDN offers many code samples, as well as such community activities as forums, CodePlex, and MSDN Code Gallery. Developers will be able to ramp up quickly and will be inspired by the cool new scenarios that are possible now that communications solutions are created solely in software.
