Microsoft IP Licensing Program Adds Three Protocols

This afternoon, Microsoft confirmed to BetaNews it has added three sets of APIs and protocols to its intellectual property portfolio, for availability to corporate developers and other partners between now and next June. It’s generally not a free license, but the intention is to give partners who do have the intention to build on these protocols a way to do so, without Microsoft giving away secrets to its competitors.

Based on information we just received, here’s the three protocol sets being added:

• Outlook-Exchange Transport Protocol, which marshals communications between Exchange Server 2007 and Outlook 2007, both of which were just released. As Microsoft describes it, OETP could conceivably be utilized for a different back-end messaging system or e-mail server altogether – one which may seek to be interoperable with Exchange Server. Availability for use should begin in June, and royalties and limits will certainly apply.
• SharePoint Server communication protocol with Office 2007 applications, availability for which is immediate, though Microsoft’s Web site had yet to be updated with this protocol when we checked today.
• Instant messaging protocol between Office Live Communications Server 2005 and Office Communicator 2005. This one’s especially significant due to the importance Microsoft has recently placed on instant messaging devices in its communications scheme, which it now refers to as “OCs” rather than “PCs.” This protocol could possibly (depending on how flexible it ends up being) enable anyone to integrate an existing IM client into the company’s OC scheme, which is tied into Microsoft’s strategy of representing presence throughout the enterprise. This protocol will become available this April.