Microsoft is planning a big push into unified communications, describing a grand vision covering VoIP, instant messaging, audioconferencing, videoconferencing, and e-mail. Built primarily on new versions of current products, the combination of new and renamed products is intended to appeal to enterprise CEOs who want to bring all of their company’s communications under a single umbrella. Hopefully the convergence will result in lower cost - TCO.

“Unified communications will drive the next major advancement in individual, team and organizational productivity in today’s 24×7, always-connected and increasingly mobile work environment,” Microsoft Business Division president Jeff Raikes said. “We believe that through software, we can transform business communications (bringing down both its cost and complexity) by now integrating voice communications with the familiar and powerful communications and collaboration experiences provided by Microsoft.”

Unified Communications Plans from Microsoft source