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Onward and UpwardKeith Ward, Editor in Chief, Visual Studio Magazine

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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


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