Microsoft today launched Lync 2010, the next generation of Office Communications Server (OCS). Unlike OCS, Lync manages various forms of communication from one UI: instant messages, voice calls, video calls, meetings, and shared whiteboard sessions. Lync also includes enterprise voice capabilities to reduce legacy infrastructure costs.

Microsoft Lync works with applications in three other Microsoft families: Office, SharePoint, and Exchange. Lync succeeds both OCS 2007, released in November 2007, and OCS 2007 R2, released in February 2009.

Microsoft Lync 2010 and Microsoft Lync Server 2010 will be available for purchase on December 1, 2010. Lync Online, which includes instant messaging, presence, audio and video conferencing, and PC-to-PC voice calls, will come as part of Office 365, with voice capabilities slated to arrive in 2011.

Lync can also connect with Windows Live Messenger for voice and video conversations, though there's no mention of support with the Xbox Kinect. On a conference call, when someone has poor audio or is adding background noise, Lync will automatically identify which phone to mute. More interestingly, device switching lets you swap between your headset and phone in the middle of a call, and you can also use your headset to make a phone call using WiFi.

A 180-day trial of Microsoft Lync Server 2010 is available on the TechNet Evaluation Center. Separately, the Microsoft Lync Server 2010 SDK is available from the Microsoft Download Center. More information and download links are available below.

"Lync delivers on our vision to unify all of the modes of modern business communication, giving people a more collaborative, 'in person' experience with features like HD video, conference recording, and social features like status updates and activity feeds," Gurdeep Singh Pall, Microsoft Lync & Speech Group corporate vice president, said in statement. "In addition to transforming how people communicate, IT departments are also looking to Lync to evolve their infrastructure and enhance or eliminate their traditional PBX systems, saving money and saving time."