Microsoft on Friday launched its Unified Communications Developer Portal, featuring SDKs and APIs to help developers build applications on Microsoft’s unified communications platform. This platform features Microsoft’s Office Communications Server, which provides capabilities such as on-premise Web-conference and enterprise voice for Microsoft Office system applications and upcoming Microsoft ERP and CRM applications. Also featured in the platform is Office Communicator 2007, offering client communications options such as instant messaging, voice and video. Through the portal, accessible here, developers can build solutions for contextual collaboration, business process communication and “anywhere” information access, according to an interview with Microsoft’s Kirt Debique, general manager for the Microsoft Office Communications Platform & Solutions Group, on the Microsoft PressPass Web site, found here. “Developers will take unified communications in directions that we haven’t even imagined yet. Going forward, we’re focused on delivering even more powerful APIs based on .Net and Web services supported by easy-to-use, familiar and integrated tools,” Debique said in the PressPass interview.Contextual collaboration enables collaboration within applications and processes. Business process communications refers to automated communications in the context of business workflows. Anywhere information access extends the reach of business information and services to phones and mobile devices. Software Development