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Software development company VisualGov Solutions and Linxter have combined Microsoft’s (News - Alert) Office Communications Server (OCS) with a cloud app running on Windows Azure.

Linxter provides message-oriented middleware as-a-service, and removes the complexities and costs for developers when implementing secure, reliable communication among disparate programs.

The company’s in-the-cloud middleware allowed VisualGov to integrate a monitoring application with Microsoft Office Communication Server 2007. This integration enables the system to place phone calls or send instant messages.

Currently in beta, this Linxter developed monitoring application watches a bank of computer servers. Whenever conditions like low disk space or a system outage happen, an alert is sent by the system that notifies IT staff to take corrective actions.

Two types of alerts are sent- text messages and text-to-speech alerts. While text messages are sent for less critical problems, the latter are is used to call people when the problem is more serious and needs immediate attention.

It will be some time before Linxter’s monitoring application will be ready for commercial release. For the time being, the company is letting customers to sign up for beta previews here. Interested persons may even begin integrating their own applications with the cloud.

“Server monitoring represents just one of many applications that could benefit from combining OCS Presence with instant messaging or traditional phone calls,” noted Keith Kabza, VisualGov Solutions CTO, in a release.

VisualGov Solutions expects it will be very common in future for applications to reach out and communicate with people as status changes.

Noting an increase in the number of applications and devices coming online, Jason Milgram, CEO of Linxter said that their company aims to ensure that these apps can be enabled for secure and reliable communication.

“Like Keith, I also look forward to seeing more applications benefit from the combination of Microsoft Office Communication Server and the cloud,” he added.