Microsoft is taking its real-time collaboration strategy to the next level with the release of a new set of tools and software code designed to facilitate collaboration across a broad array of enterprise applications.

The new Presence Controls designed for Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 will deliver pervasive capabilities to help individuals work together more effectively, said Microsoft product manager Ed Simnett.

"The idea behind real-time collaboration is to let those working in teams in an office, or worldwide, communicate better," he said. "Our strategy is to make that collaboration part of the office infrastructure." Simnett predicted that presence-aware applications will become ubiquitous in the enterprise within five years.

In pushing presence-aware software to facilitate communications with coworkers around the network or at remote locations, Microsoft and its software partners are attempting to move beyond instant messaging to include real-time communications in applications ranging from customer-relationship management to enterprise-resource planning, said Simnett.

"There is a big advantage in not having to close one application to establish communications in another," he explained. "We are helping developers make any application a communications application."

Role Models

The new Presence Controls essentially are software tools earmarked for Microsoft Visual Studio developers wanting to embed presence-aware capabilities into applications so they can provide contact-status information around a network. Users of these presence-aware applications can quickly launch instant-messaging conversations or telephone calls to connect and collaborate with colleagues.

In addition to facilitating real-time collaboration, Presence Controls give developers the ability to assign roles to enterprise workers. The Role Agent Module for Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005, for example, provides one kind of implementation of role-based instant messaging and presence.

This module gives developers a way to assign a role name, such as "customer-service representative," to a group of people. Requests for an instant-messaging session with any role can be dispatched to any or all of the available members in that group.

Quick, Effective Collaboration

"It is essential in today's business environment that people have the ability to quickly and effectively collaborate with coworkers, partners and customers in real time within the context of day-to-day business processes," said Zig Serafin, general manager for the real-time collaboration group at Microsoft.

"With Live Communications Server, we are providing an extensible platform with rich federation capabilities and tools that help partners more easily incorporate real-time collaboration functionality into applications that today's workforces use most, and that span internal and cross-company business processes," he said.

Among the partners currently integrating these collaboration features in their software are BrightWork, K2.net, Meridio Inc., OSIsoft Inc., Siebel Systems and Singularity. Siebel currently offers collaboration software integrated with the controls to help businesses capture, share and access information in real time, Simnett said.

Those wanting to learn more about the Presence Controls and sample some of the modules can visit the Microsoft Office Live Communications Server site.

Via News Factor