To ensure that users have a great experience when using phones and devices with Office Communicator 2007, we’ve created the Optimized for Microsoft Office Communicator qualification program. The Optimized logo allows you to quickly identify phones and devices that work especially well with Communicator by providing new levels of choice, user experience and operational control.

These qualified phones and devices have been certified as providing the following benefits:

·         “Just works” installation experience. Qualified phones and devices work out-of-the-box with Office Communicator 2007 and Office Communications Server 2007. They’ve been tested to ensure a high-quality user experience.

•    Plug-and-play with no drivers or additional software required
•    Tight hardware-software integration – for instance, you can pick up the handset on a qualified device and Communicator will automatically open, allowing you to place a call

·         Lower total cost of ownership. Qualified phones and devices reduce the costs of enterprise telephony deployment, management, support and training.

• Plug-and-play for simple setup without assistance from IT – users can self-install devices
• Fully compatible with Office Communicator 2007 and available in familiar form factors

·         Greater choice and superior end-user experience. Microsoft’s open, standards-based approach to devices is fostering a broad ecosystem of products that provide a superior end-user experience. Qualified devices:

•   Include IP phones, USB phones, wired and wireless headsets, LCD monitors, laptops and webcams, enabling customers to select the devices that best meet their functionality and price needs
• Feature wideband audio, or, if a video device, high-quality video for clearer, crisper communications
•  Are compatible with Office Communicator 2007’s call management features, including call forwarding and simultaneous ringing, and can be used from within familiar Microsoft Office applications

To learn more about the Optimized for Microsoft Office Communicator qualification program and see the list of qualified phones, headsets, speakerphones, webcams and monitors, visit http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/bb970310.aspx

-Kunal Sikka (Senior Product Manager)

-Huat Chye Lim (Technical Product Manager)