@PDC09: Microsoft Unified Communications: Developer Platform Futures (PRO5)

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Thanks to everyone that attended my PDC09 session today.  I’ll link to the session recording when it’s posted on Ch. 9, but here’s a quick recap of what was covered:

  • The UC “14” Wave will consist of Exchange 2010 (released last week at TechEd Europe), Office Communications Server “14”* and Office Communicator “14”*.  With the release of those products we’ll also release a totally new client platform and a largely revamped server platform.
  • The Office Communicator 14* platform SDKs will include:
    • Office Communicator 14 Controls for WPF and Silverlight*: Allows you to integrate the OC 14 UI and features (presence, contact lists, contact info and communications) into your applications with very little code.
    • Office Communicator 14 Managed API*: Exposes the OC 14 object model as a set of managed classes, providing you the ability to extend the client communications experience.  You can use the API to send application data as conversation context and take action on that communication context on the receiving side by launching your application or extending the conversation window using Silverlight to display application data and features.
  • The Office Communications Server 14* SDKs will include:
    • Unified Communications Managed API 3.0 Workflow Activities: Exposes OCS 14 communications as a set of Windows Workflows Activities that execute on an incoming or outgoing call.  The API supports IM, voice, presence and call control activities.  Use this API to integrate OCS 14 communications into your business processes (from a SharePoint 2010 workflow, for example). 
    • Unified Communications Managed API 3.0 Core SDK: Provides a managed code object model API for the end to end communications stack for OCS 14.  UCMA 3.0 will add programmatic access to the new OCS 14 features as well as streamlining many common server side development scenarios.  Use this API to build sophisticated communication solutions like personal virtual assistants, web click to chat/click to call solutions, web service gateways, etc.
  • The Exchange 2010 SDKs will include:
    • Exchange Web Services: Provides a web services API for accessing data and business logic exposed by Exchange.  Available now, details are here.
    • Exchange Web Services Managed API 1.0: Provides a managed class library for EWS, making EWS development very discoverable and productive.  Available now, details here.

I’ll provide more details over the common weeks.  Exciting times ahead!

Thanks,

Chris.

*Not the final names.