Microsoft's Presence-Enabled Real-Time Communications Strategy

This report provides a deep view into Microsofts presence-enabled real-time communications strategy and products, describing in detail the companys presence and IM server, the new desktop client, the companys enhancements to its web conferencing service, its shared workspace solution, and how these integrate with one another and with Microsofts other desktop productivity products. We point out what Microsoft delivers out of the box and reveal which functionalities one must go to a partner company to obtain. We describe 12 strengths Microsoft has in the market and 4 market weaknesses. We list 6 concerns we have with Microsofts web conferencing platform. We discuss the value end users and vendor partners will find in Microsofts solutions as well as some of the concerns they have. We also list and describe Microsofts major competitors.