Onward and UpwardKeith Ward, Editor in Chief, Visual Studio Magazine
Blog archive
Unified Communications Web API Made Public
Microsoft has made its Unified Communications Web API (UCWA) public, allowing Web developers to add capabilities to its Lync-based services. Toward that end, Microsoft has created a specific Lync Web Developer site, to educate devs about the API.
"UCWA is a REST API that exposes Lync Server 2013 Instant Messaging and Presence capabilities," says documentation on the developer site. UCWA is free, but to use it, you must have Lync on-premises.
Microsoft envisions UC developers embedding Instant Messaging, chat, presence and other functionality into line-of-business (LOB) apps. Here's a partial listing of what can be done, taken from the site:
- Anonymous Web Chat
- Support audio conferencing
- Light up IM & Presence in your Line-Of-Business app, including Windows 8, iPad, and others
- Inline Instant Messaging into your application (Contextual Communications)
- Search for Skype and/or business contacts
UWCA is language-agnostic, and uses standard Web technologies like HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
Posted by Keith Ward on 03/14/2013