It's All About Cloud UC

Introducing Microsoft UC Cloud Archiving ServicesA key application area for Cloud providers to consider is the UC suite (Unified Communications), referring to technologies for VoIP, 'Presence' and Instant Messaging, and a single inbox for email, fax and voicemail.

Unified CommunicationsMicrosoft caused big waves in the telco industry in 2007 when they launched their products into this space, significant because traditionally the worlds of IT applications and telco telephony has remained quite seperate.

The enterprise data-centre

Business applications run as software in the enterprise data-centre, and telephony is provided by black box hardware and maintained by a different team who look after networks too.

It's more likely the performance-intensive apps like the main OCS communications engine, will be on-site and an ideal early candidate for delivery via the private Enterprise Cloud.