Microsoft says Exchange Server 2007; the Office Communicator 2007 client (with a version for phones) and the Office Live Meeting 2007 Web conferencing service will be available in the second quarter of 2007. The company intends to launch betas of the software by the end of the year.

Earlier this year, Microsoft had merged its Exchange and real-time collaboration groups to form a unified communications group. This was done with the intention of giving users a single platform for real-time communications that could be integrated with traditional desktop, network applications and mobile devices, with business processes running across all three.

Analysts suggest that such an integrated platform has the potential to change the way corporate users think about deploying real-time communications, which are becoming increasingly critical in an online world.

The company had recently laid out upgrades, as well as a road map, for its software line up. The upgrades belong to a family of products built for Office 2007, which is slated to ship to corporate clients in November.

Earlier this month, Microsoft had showed off the Exchange server's new features at its annual TechEd conference, demonstrating its unified messaging capabilities, which include integration of voice with e-mail and calendaring. Other features include potential architectural changes to the Exchange infrastructure, specifically in IP PBX deployments.

According to Microsoft officials, over the next few years there would likely be dramatic developments in IP PBX infrastructure. According to them, companies may increasingly think of not actually purchasing a PBX, but adding software and enterprise communications software platforms to their server and network infrastructure in order to enhance its capabilities manifold.

As part of its unified-communications plan, Microsoft has added multi-user data and application sharing and video support to the Communications Server, as well as deeper integration with a PBX to support advanced call features, such as letting users place calls with names and e-mail addresses.

Microsoft has also added what it calls enhanced presence, which lets users set their presence by groups listed in Active Directory, which will have metadata extensions that will let developers add controls for presence rules to their applications. Microsoft also plans to introduce Communicator client software which will integrate phones, including IP-enabled business desktop phones, with voice and video devices.

New to the line up is Office RoundTable, which plugs into Communications Server. RoundTable provides a panoramic shot of the conference table with a separate picture of the active speaker in a separate window on the PC.

Microsoft will also add video streaming, flash support and IP-based voice capability to its online Office Live Meeting service. The company plans to introduce other services, including hosted presence and IM for businesses so users can connect a Communications Server to partners' IM infrastructures.

Microsoft has also unveiled partnerships to support peripheral devices such as USB handsets, headsets, Webcams and PC monitors. The partners include Logitech, Motorola, Plantronics, Samsung and Tatung, whose devices will be integrated with Office Communicator 2007.

If successful in its efforts, the software giant may well change the rules of the game in the communications market place.