Microsoft’s new streamline of Unified Communications tools, Business Communications Software, which according to Microsoft can reduce customers report savings of 25 percent to 30 percent from VoIP, conferencing software; more than 50 partners announce new products and services.

During its launch, Bill Gates said, “In the next decade, sweeping technology innovations driven by the power of software will transform communications. Working with partners, we’re making rapid advances that will enable fundamental advances in the way people communicate and collaborate at work.” Here are the following Unified Communication software:

Microsoft® Office Communications Server 2007.
Software that delivers VoIP, video, instant messaging, conferencing and presence within the applications people already know and use such as Microsoft Office system applications and upcoming versions of Microsoft Dynamics™ ERP products and the Microsoft CRM release due later this year.

Microsoft Office Communicator 2007.
Client software for phone, instant messaging and video communications that works across the PC, mobile phone and Web browser.

Microsoft Office Live Meeting.
The next version of Microsoft’s advanced conferencing service that enables workers to conduct meetings, share documents, utilize video and record discussions from virtually any computer.

Microsoft RoundTable™.
A conferencing phone with a 360-degree camera that captures a panoramic view of meeting participants, tracks the speaker and can record meetings

Service pack update of Microsoft Exchange Server 2007.
The industry’s leading e-mail, voice mail, calendaring and unified messaging platform.

“Unified communications software will transform business communications as fundamentally as e-mail did in the 1990s. Today, Microsoft is in the VoIP game, and our customers and partners are already winning with better economics and new business opportunities,” Jeff Raikes said, President of the Microsoft Business Division.

Click here to read more about this press release.

There’s another office-like productivity app about to hit the shelves. It’s called Scrybe and currently you can only request to be added to the beta, which I’ve done. Here’s a little more information:

Scrybe^TM is a groundbreaking online organizer that caters to today´s lifestyle in a cohesive and intuitive way.
Simple solutions for some age old problems.

• Seamless offline access - without any installations
• Rich and fast like a desktop
• Intuitive zoomable calendar views
• Organize your thoughts with bookmarks, web snippets, images and files
• To-do lists integrated with your calendar
• Share and collaborate with friends and co-workers
• Elegant, compact and handy print formats
• Easily work across multiple timezones
• Import and export from other apps easily. Your data is yours!

There’s also an embedded YouTube video on their site you can watch. The video really does an amazing job of highlighting everything that’s possible with Scrybe. Be sure and watch the full video so you can see their “PaperSync” technology, a BRILLIANT! idea.

Microsoft in partnership with Waggener Edstrom has released a new e-mail newsletter for those people participating in the Office 2007 beta.

The release of the 2007 Microsoft Office system is quickly approaching. We are excited to bring you this update that will highlight useful news, information and resources that will help you evaluate the next Office release. Look for this communication to arrive in your mailbox every other week to keep you apprised of the most current Office related information.

Consider this your own personal Beta-gram…a one stop shop for information and communication from the Office Reviews team!