Microsoft showcased this development plan during a VoiceCon 2008 keynote address delivered by Gurdeep Singh Pall, Microsoft’s corporate vice president for unified communications, generating a significant number of customer inquiries for Tandberg this week.

“We are committed to investing in innovation that will extend access of high-definition video communications to the individual user at the desktop,” said Fredrik Halvorsen, CEO of Tandberg. “This ground-breaking initiative reinforces our strong relationship with Microsoft and our commitment to unified communications.”

The new high-definition webcam investment advances Tandberg’s relationship with Microsoft and the company’s commitment to Microsoft’s unified communications platform. Previously, Tandberg announced interoperability of its video systems with Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 and licensed the Microsoft RT Video codec and Microsoft RT Audio codec.

“We believe that Microsoft has a strong position in the unified communications market,” added Halvorsen, “and we are making ongoing investments in Microsoft Office Communication Server development to ensure that we are well placed to realize the benefits.”

Tandberg will deliver the camera in conjunction with Microsoft’s intended support of high-definition video in its next release of Microsoft Office Communications Server. The new camera will be available during the first half of 2009.