Microsoft unveils LOBi as part of its Business Applications strategy

At the Microsoft TechEd 2006 conference, last week the software major unveiled Line of Business Interoperability (LOBi) technology, that will allow business customers to see information in all their enterprise applications via the company's portal software, Office SharePoint Server. LOBi, will deliver data and processes from applications to Office client applications.

The company said that LOBi is part of Microsoft's strategy to foster the development of Office Business Applications, a new breed of "People-Ready" business solutions that allow information workers to use their familiar Microsoft Office environment.

LOBi enables deep structured process integration with Office client applications, the ability for people to update transactional applications from within Office, and the ability to more securely take structured business processes and data offline.

LOBi is similar to the Duet technology project (formerly code-named Project Mendocino) that Microsoft developed with SAP, which will allow users to access data and processes from SAP's business applications through Office.

Office Business Applications is part of Microsoft's plan to make Office 2007 a comprehensive software suite for office productivity, business intelligence, content management and worker collaboration.

Microsoft expects to preview LOBi before year-end, with general availability expected in 2007. General release of Office 2007 is expected in January of the coming year.