Interactive Intelligence has plans to release an integrated solution that combines its all-in-one communications software platform with Microsoft (News - Alert) Office Communications Server 2007.

This integration is designed to enable organizations to communicate more effectively by adding contact center and IP telephony functionality to OCS environments. It also offers the ability to exchange instant messages (IM) between the two system using OCS’s secure IM engine through a common enterprise-wide user directory.

The Interactive Intelligence (News - Alert) all-in-one IP communications software platform adds features such as multi-channel skills-based routing, call and screen recording, an operator console interface, workforce management, and cradle-to-grave reporting.

“We’ve gone beyond the basic integration of simply connecting audio calls between systems,” said Interactive Intelligence founder and CEO, Dr. Donald Brown (News - Alert), in a Tuesday statement.

“Combined with OCS, our solution provides a broad set of contact center and IP telephony applications, a common company directory, and simplified administration for user provisioning. The beauty of this combined solution is that all users can share information and communicate with one another in real-time even though they are running desktop software from two different vendors.”

“For instance, an engineer in California running an Office Communicator Client using a PC as a soft phone can call or ‘IM’ a product manager in New York running our Interaction Client. In addition, because our integration to OCS uses a direct SIP connection, customers don’t have to purchase pricey gateways,” Brown added.

“Interactive Intelligence has taken OCS integration a step forward by enabling customers to more easily take advantage of both the collaboration capabilities in OCS, and the contact center and IP telephony functionality in CIC – all while giving users the choice of which client to run at the desktop,” said Yankee Group (News - Alert) enterprise research group analyst, Vanessa Alvarez, in a Tuesday statement.

“From an industry perspective, this move pushes unified communications forward, which Yankee believes is critical for achieving the Anywhere Enterprise where employees, customers, assets and partners can easily connect to applications, information and services whenever and wherever they need them.”

As consumers become more mobile and the enterprise finds its branches and employees dispersed throughout the world, the demand for communications without borders is growing at a substantial rate.

Interactive Intelligence has done well to combine its all-in-one platform with Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 to not only expand its capabilities, but also to capitalize on its brand.

Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 is designed to manage real-time communications, including instant messaging, VoIP, audio and video conferencing. It also works with existing telecommunications systems to ensure businesses can deploy advanced VoIP and conferencing without interfering with existing legacy phone networks.

The Interactive Intelligence integration to OCS is planned for general availability in Q3 2008 and will be offered through the Interactive Intelligence channel of approximately 300 value-added resellers worldwide.