As an example, Microsoft unified communications move voice mail and faxes over the network like e-mail. They arrive in employees’ Microsoft Office Outlook inboxes so they can be sorted, prioritized, and forwarded, just like any piece of e-mail. And when employees are in the field, they can dial in over any telephone to hear and reply to e-mail messages or scheduling.

Microsoft unified communications technologies make the most of existing communications investments because a Microsoft solution can integrate smoothly with existing IT infrastructure and telephone systems, including legacy PBXs. Plus, Microsoft unified communications technologies bring new tools like click-to-call, persistent group chat, personal presence, as well as Web, video and audio conferencing to the Microsoft Office system applications your workforce uses every day.

Unified Communications for the UtilityUnified communications offers many benefits to utilities. For utilities

with large footprints and dispersed employees, UC offers a cost-effective solution that cuts travel bills and increases productivity among dispersed teams. This helps manage the problems that are expected when widespread retirements cause shortages among the utility workforce.

UC also expands the availability of asset information. For instance, when crews in the field or the plant need access to engineering expertise to resolve operations issues, unified communications can enable them with instantaneous access to appropriate SMEs, no matter the time zone where they reside. When they initiate requests for help, the best available resource can be hailed by IM or phone call. The SME can access potential solutions immediately, evaluate them and communicate them to the field or plant crews. Or, through federation and public IM, the SME can collaborate with contractors and vendors to get the information the crews need in real time.

Unified communications, comprehensive search, enterprise-wide business intelligence are all key ingredients to successfully rising to the challenges that utilities face. Combining these capabilities through the Microsoft platform will enable the utility of the future to operate effectively, regardless of the economic, marketplace or regulatory circumstances in which they find themselves. And they’ll make their existing communications investments even smarter, through the automated integration of the routine tasks that utilities perform daily.

Communicating to Solve ChallengesUtilities run on the power of people communicating, effectively. Field crews can repair downed lines, fix pipelines or upgrade equipment in a timely way when they have the right information in front of them and can communicate effectively with dispatchers and engineers by radio, computer or instant messaging (IM) service.

Plants can be brought back on-line after the appropriate e-mails and confirming phone calls are received indicating that the required maintenance and associated safety checks have been performed and everything is ready to run. New service offerings can be optimized when the marketing team can collaborate with the customer service department on new customer-facing portal Web page designs. Questions from the customer service agents can be answered in seconds when they have instant access to the appropriate subject matter experts (SME).

In short, the utility operates smoothly when people collaborate across its entire set of functions. Of course, utilities have recognized the im-portance of collaboration, having purchased nearly every conceivable communication technology available. In the near future, they will need even more communications systems to replace antiquated hardware with issues related to the availability of spare parts, enable the smart grid, and respond to workforce shortages.While communications can enable better operational efficiency, they can also be complex and difficult to manage because each system has its own siloed platform. Integration and ease of administration are difficult to achieve in this environment.

Microsoft Unifies Communica-tions through SoftwareMicrosoft® unified communica-tions solutions harness the power of your existing Microsoft software infrastructure while streamlining communications between your people and organizations.

These solutions help break down the communication silos between the various systems with a security-enhanced, seamless and extensible communications platform.

Microsoft unified communications solutions integrate enterprise telephony (voice over IP) with your existing voice and e-mail infrastructures to deliver unified e-mail, voice mail, calendaring, IM, and conferencing solutions that are cost-effective and scalable.

Unified Communications: Enabling High Velocity Utilities

Microsoft unified communications technologies use the power of software to deliver complete communications—messaging, voice, and video—across the applications and devices that people use every day. Integrating the experiences associated with the telephone—phone calls, voice mail, and conferencing—with work on a computer—documents, spreadsheets, IM, e-mail, and calendars—has the power to fundamentally change the way utilities work.

Power & Utilities

About the Microsoft Worldwide Utilities Group

© 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. This document is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY. Microsoft, BizTalk, SharePoint, Vista, Visual Studio, Windows, and Windows Server are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

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Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007• manages all real-time (synchronous) communications, including IM, VoIP, single number reach, and dial-in, audio and video conferencing. It works with existing telecommunications systems, so business can deploy advanced VoIP and conferencing without tearing out existing phone networks. With presence, you can see at a glance if someone is available and contact them with a click using IM, a phone call or a video conference.Microsoft Office Communicator 2007• is the client application for real-time (synchronous) communication and the user’s primary tool for presence and directory information, IM, telephone calls, and audio and video conferencing. Intuitive

design makes it easy for users to communicate with features like click-to-call and the ability to shift conversations from IM to phone or video conferences on the fly. • Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 manages all asynchronous communications and delivers unified messaging. It includes a new voice atten-dant so that users can dial in to access everything in their inboxes. Users can hear and act on their calendars, listen to e-mail and voice mail mes-sages, manage their personal contacts, or call anyone listed in the company directory.• Microsoft Exchange Hosted Services offers online tools to help your organiza-tion protect itself from spam and malware, satisfy retention requirements for e-discovery and compliance, encrypt data to preserve confidentiality,

and maintain access to e-mail during and after emergency situations.Microsoft Office Live • Meeting (2007) enables online collaboration with colleagues, customers, and partners in real time. Connect and engage with individuals or large groups, with just a PC and an Internet connection.

Microsoft’s Worldwide Utilities Group offers platform and partner solutions that empower utilities to thrive in today’s market-driven environment by optimizing their business operations in customer care, power generation, trading and risk management, transmission and dis-tribution, regulatory compliance and enterprise services. For more information contact your local Microsoft Sales Representative or visit www.microsoft.com/utilities.

Benefits of Using Microsoft Unified Communications

Allow key stakeholders to productively collaborate across conti-• nents and time zonesShare data and information immediately • Determine counterparties availability and preferred channels to • communicate instantly Integrate enterprise telephony (VoIP) with existing voice and • e-mail infrastructures Deliver solutions that are cost-effective and scalable• Enable workers to quickly and easily find the right person and • click to communicate from within everyday software applications and business processesIntegrate solution with • existing IT infrastructureWork with familiar desktop • softwareProtect intellectual property • with secure communicationReduce travel requirements, • cutting CO2 emissions and costs

Features of MicrosoftUnified Communications

Secure, mobile e-mail• Voice mail• Calendaring• Instant messaging• Voice communications • (Voice over IP, which can be integrated with the organization’s PBX)Web, video and audio • conferencingPresence availability•

Microsoft Technologies That Enable Unified Communications

The 2007 Microsoft Office• system is designed to take full advantage of Microsoft unified communications technologies. Presence technology appears throughout the 2007 Office system. Because every person who works on a file stays associated with it, presence technology can provide multiple channels for communication. Users can esca-late the conversation to a phone call, or audio or video confer-ence at any point. Windows Mobile devices• provide mobile access to e-mail, contacts, calendar, and tasks. This increases employee productiv-ity and responsiveness. Windows Mobile 6 delivers significant enhancements to familiar Microsoft mobile applications. Plus, with security, scalability and manageability improvements, you will find it easier than ever to make your mobile workforce productive.

Microsoft unified communications technologies offer a platform software approach—instead of a rip and replace approach—allowing the business to stay flexible and embrace innovations as they come. When emerging technologies and changing business needs require the communications infrastructure to adapt, the IT group needs only to upgrade or extend the software, and not their investments in hardware.

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Turning Communications 90 Degrees Bringing people and information together with software

Turning Communications 90 DegreesBringing people and information together with software