With OCS 2007 R2, Microsoft has added more PBX-like features to OCS 2007, thus enabling organizations to improve productivity while also cutting the cost burden of legacy PBX infrastructure.

SIP trunking, new in R2, and also an important part of Microsoft's ResponsePoint small business VoIP offering, enables companies to move to a standards-based infrastructure while also making it possible to connect OCS 2007 directly to the carrier network, thereby reducing infrastructure costs at the gateway.

While OCS 2007 traction has thus far been happening mainly in enterprises, solution providers say SIP trunking could help spur OCS adoption in the midmarket and SMB segments, particularly in light of the prohibitive cost of T1 lines needed to drive PBX environments.

Microsoft Communications Server R2 will mark the general availability of OCS 2007 R2 on February 3 in a virtual launch event. At that time, Microsoft's volume licensing customers will be able to download the software.