Microsoft's Communications Server Infomercial

The virtual launch seemed strange to me, because for the Webcast portion there was an audience. Who? Microsoft employees? Soon-to-be-fired contract workers? Certainly, Microsoft wouldn't want to bring back the 1,400 recently laid-off employees.

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Stephen Elop, president of Microsoft's Business division, described the launch as the "first major Microsoft product released in this format." What? Did he miss the Essential Business Server launch, also virtual, in November?

To be honest, I didn't like the production style of the Webcast keynote, which felt oh-so infomercial. Seriously, Microsoft could rebroadcast the launch event on late-night cable TV. "Dial 1-555-UNIFIED and have your credit card ready. Instant financing is available for purchases of 25 or more CALs (client-access licenses)."

The commercials—or so I call the video breakaways—within the launch keynote had me gagging. They especially were way too infomercial-like. By the way, the camera work of Stephen's keynote was quite good. Something else: Stephen is a pretty good communicator, which was oddly appropriate given the product being launched.

I laughed at the audience-submitted questions. At a live event, there would be analysts, bloggers, journalists and Microsoft customers in attendance. There would be questions that probed. Instead, there were Microsoft employee audience questions being asked by a Microsoft employee. The approach contributed to the Webcast's infomercial-like feel. But, hey, it's total PR control, which companies like Microsoft love.

Half of Fortune 500 companies already have licenses for Communications Server, Stephen told the audience (live and virtual attendees). He said, "R2 is a wake-up call" to traditional communications vendors. Could he mean Cisco Systems? Ailing Nortel?

Communications Server anchors Microsoft's unified communications strategy. The software tightly integrates with other Microsoft software, such as Exchange Server and SharePoint Server. "When it comes to unified communications, software makes all the difference," Stephen asserted. Yeah, he did mean Cisco and Nortel. Perhaps IBM, too.

Communications Server 2007 R2 is generally available today, Feb. 3. Software Assurance subscribers can just grab and go. Other customers will have to pay up. Microsoft treats R2 releases as version upgrades.

I have to say that the video short about the oil rigs was interesting. Oilfield service provider Schlumberger has deployed Microsoft unified communications software, customized with its Petrel reservoir modeling software. I wouldn't make the connection between gritty oil rigs and real-time communications. I think of unified communications as being for use by office—or what Microsoft calls "knowledge"—workers, not oil riggers.

The Schlumberger video was supposed to demonstrate Office Communications Server as a development platform. Stephen asserted that the "6 million developers that use Visual Studio" can create custom applications around Communications Server.

No surprise, Microsoft pitched Communications Server 2007 R2 as a means of cutting back travel budgets during these tough economic times. The virtual launch made a point simply by being virtual.

The virtual launch is also broader than just the Webcast keynote. Microsoft has set up an OCS 2007 R2 launch Web site with breakout sessions, case studies, videos and other materials. The Web site is nicely done, and in Silverlight. There's a handy Exhibition Floorplan and well-presented case studies and videos. Kudos for the Web presentation. No thanks for the infomercial keynote.

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