The telecommunications industry is changing in ways not thought possible. We, as a human race, are seeing a complete transformation in how human communication can be used throughout applications and devices, truly connecting people and processes, regardless of geography, at a speed of innovation that is incomprehensible. The future of these successful innovations will lie within how human and machine-based communication will interact with tools that we use on a daily basis, liberating us from specific hardware and devices through the power of software. The purpose of this book is to introduce you to a company who is truly a leader in this strategy and vision and who is equipping the creative developers of tomorrow with the tools necessary to transform the world of Voice and Unified Communications forever. This company is Microsoft Corporation, and the content within this book will help you understand what Microsoft is providing today and the vision for tomorrow throughout consumer, small business, and enterprise organizations on a global scale through the power of software.

Joe Schurman is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Evangelyze Communications, a Microsoft Certified Voice Specialized Partner (VSP). Joe has provided consulting and research within the Information Technology industry and with Microsoft for the past 15 years, holding senior roles at IBM Global Services, Hewlett-Packard, and Accenture. Joe has founded several successful organizations focusing on the research and development of voice and unified communications technologies with Nortel, Cisco, Avaya, and Microsoft. Joe was involved in the early stages of Microsoft’s Unified Communications strategy in 2002 with the release of Microsoft Live Communications Server 2003 and has provided internationally recognized research, publications, and training seminars in each region of the world. In 2006, Joe began working with Microsoft Research on the initial launch of Microsoft’s Small Business voice product, Microsoft Response Point, and has travelled throughout the US and Canada providing training and readiness to Microsoft’s partners and customers. Joe is an award-winning speaker through the Microsoft TechNet program, having spoken for thousands of attendees at Microsoft events and IT industry-focused seminars and webcasts worldwide, and is a 5-time award winner of the prestigious Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) Award for his community involvement and contributions to Microsoft’s voice and unified communications products and services internationally. Joe is married with three children and resides in Houston, Texas, where he began his career at Compaq Computer Corporation.