OCS and Communicator 2007 vs. Windows Live Messenger (Collaborative Thinking)

Interesting comparison but it raises as many questions as it answers. As "digital life" and "digital work" converge - why are there such artificial separations between Windows Live Messenger and Office Communicator? OK, the quick response would be "well - enterprises are different". And while that might be true - it doesn't address why there are completely different products (you should be able to compose the necessary "enterprise-level" components and services into a client as needed. Some of these capabilities are actually ones I would want in my "life" experience as well as my "work experience". And as software becomes converged with life/work - the less hard-wiring vendors will be able to defend (e.g., integration with only certain directories, certain e-mail or collaboration platforms). And I'm not sure the last point on the Communicator client being upgraded only once in three years is a valid point at all.

Communicator 2007 with OCS is better than using WLM because:

Its integrated with the AD, Exchange and SharePoint

Looks up all the numbers for you, mobile, landline, home etc from contacts or the GAL

Uses your calendar to auto set your presence state

Takes you to their mysite on right click

Presence globes throughout MS Office system, including SharePoint, AD, Outlook, Word, other apps etc.

Security

Anyone can sign up for your Windows Live ID and thus pretend to be you (all it says is 'email address not verified'

In WLM you can change your name to someone else. All too easy to change your name and impersonate someone else.

When you leave an organisation, your communicator buddy list stays with the company. With WLM you take that list with you

Communicator is possible to log conversation centrally, not possible with WLM

Because it encrypts the traffic so people can't intercept your messages as they travel outside the firewall

Higher fidelity presence

You can see at a glance if they are OOF before you email them or IM them

With Communicator you have advanced presence such as 'in call' and 'in a meeting' which are set automatically

You can tag a contact if you are looking for them

With Communicator you can also see the presence of those that are NOT on buddy list. This is a big one - its people you don't know that well that you need the most presence assistance with. I'd have to put the whole company on my buddy list to use WLM for this.

Phone integration

Communicator integrates with your phone

Can divert calls to the device you choose even mid call

Communicator lets you answer the phone on your pc if you like because the two are integrated

You can have your phone do simultaneous ring like your desk and mobile

Via remote call control, you can see your phone calls come in even when you are not near your phone or mobile and can choose to take them via the pc or send to vmail

Is integrated with your voicemail letting you talk to your voicemail inbox from the client

With Communicator you can make outgoing and incoming calls from your PC. WLM only does outgoing - and its nowhere near as good quality (IMHO)

You can click on a phone number in a document and it will phone it, you can cut and paste numbers and edit them before dialling

Enterprise management

Communicator client is updated once every 3 or so years. WLM has a shorter refresh cycle so requires more effort to maintain in an enterprise

You can do multi person video conferencing - don't think you can do that with WLM

Can IM a DL

Cleaner UI, more corporate