ORLANDO, Fla., March 7, 2007 - Jeff Raikes, president of Microsoft’s Business Division, today predicted that the enhanced voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) and other advances in upcoming Microsoft Office system products will dramatically reduce the costs and frustrations associated with workplace communications.

Raikes offered the prediction during a keynote address at the VoiceCon Spring 2007 conference in Orlando, Fla. He also announced Microsoft’s plans to begin public beta-testing later this month of the company’s first two products that include enhanced VoIP capabilities: Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 and Office Communicator 2007, Microsoft’s unified communications client.

In a webcast statement, taped prior to today’s announcement, Raikes discusses the greatly expanded role that software will play in the future of business communications. He also offers his perspective on how information workers and companies will benefit from Office Communications Server 2007, which combines enhanced VoIP, instant messaging (IM), presence and audio/video conferencing.