Today, Microsoft officially launches Microsoft Lync, the next generation of communications! You can view a live stream of the NYC event at 8:00 a.m. PST to 9:15 a.m. PST.

Lync brings instant messaging, presence, video and voice capabilities together, making it easier to communicate virtually face-to-face despite location. Any conversation can include video, application and desktop-sharing, and enable people to participate in meetings without being physically present in the room. Lync capabilities will also be available in Office 365, announced earlier this month, allowing companies to use Lync on premises, in the cloud, or as a combination of the two.

Several customers and partners are already on board with Lync. Customers including: The Estee Lauder Companies Inc., Nikon, Marquette University, France Telecom, and Herrenknecht AG embracing Lync and seeing a new level of efficiency, productivity and return on their IT investment. In fact, Microsoft recently commissioned Forrester Consulting to conduct a Total Economic Impact report that found that based on a composite organization, Lync 2010 offers a 337 percent three year-risk-adjusted ROI, with a payback period of 12 months.
Microsoft Lync 2010 and Microsoft Lync Server 2010 will be available for businesses of all sizes to purchase on December 1, 2010, in more than 150 countries and 38 languages. For a free trial, go to Lync.com.

Inspiration and the need to share documents can strike at any time and in any context – yes, even while looking at pictures of a friend’s new pug on Facebook. You may want to send your friend a spreadsheet containing data you pulled together on organic dog food prices in shops within the Bay area. Lucky you…Microsoft Office is now a part of Facebook’s new messaging system, allowing people to view Word, Excel and PowerPoint attachments with the Office Web Apps directly in Facebook. If you have Office installed on your computer, you will be able to download, edit and save attachments to your computer.

It’s our next step in providing 750 million users worldwide with access to their Office documents across different devices, networks and platforms – now, even on Facebook. Learn more on The Office Blog.

The Cloud Computing and Sustainability: The Environmental Benefits of Moving to the Cloud study says that moving business applications to the cloud can save 30 percent or more in carbon emissions per user. The benefits are even more impressive for small deployments: Energy use and emissions can be reduced by more than 90 percent with a shared cloud service. This study was commissioned by Microsoft Corp. and conducted by Accenture and WSP Environment & Energy. Visit the Microsoft Environment website to learn more.

Hot on the heels of last Week’s Professional Developer’s Conference, Microsoft continues its heavy focus on cloud computing by kicking off a new, global “Cloud Power” campaign. Based on the notion that the cloud has the power to fundamentally change the way people do business, the campaign will give organizations that are considering the cloud information about the potential benefits for their business and advice on how to get started.

Office 365 is a pivotal part of Microsoft’s enterprise cloud computing offering, and cloud productivity is one of the three key scenarios that the company will highlight throughout the campaign. You can expect to see quite a bit more about office 365 in the context of the campaign in the months ahead.

In addition, the campaign will include:
• More than 150 educational events around the world
• Insight from top Microsoft executives on critical issues such as security and privacy
• Perspective from real customers talking about their experiences with Microsoft’s cloud technologies
• New online tools – including the Cloud Opportunity Explorer – available at www.microsoft.com/cloud

There’s also an advertising element to the campaign, which kicks into full gear this evening with a 30-second TV spot on Monday Night Football during the Houston vs. Indianapolis game. For more information about the campaign or the meaning of “Cloud Power,” please visit the Microsoft News Center.