Today at the VoiceCon Orlando 2010 conference, Microsoft Corp. announced that the next version of its unified communications software, code-named Communications Server “14,” will be available in the second half of 2010. In his keynote address, Gurdeep Singh Pall, corporate vice president of Microsoft’s Office Communications Group, demonstrated the new software for the first time publicly and said Communications Server “14” will help make communications simpler, more open and more cost-efficient.

Pall said the new software includes a complete communications solution, with full enterprise telephony; a familiar and powerful way to communicate and collaborate using a sleek, simplified Communicator client that works with Microsoft Office, Microsoft SharePoint Server and Microsoft Exchange; and a versatile platform that allows customers to embed communications in applications. In addition, customers will be able to use instant messaging, presence and other capabilities of the software both on-premises and in the cloud with Microsoft Office Communications Online.