TELECOM Digest OnLine - Sorted: Microsoft Starts Test of New VoIP Server

Microsoft Starts Test of New VoIP Server

Reuters News Wire (reuters@telecom-digest.org)
Tue, 12 Dec 2006 17:50:01 -0600

Microsoft Corp. started testing on Monday a new computer server
software that allows corporate customers to make Web-based phone calls
through its Office suite of business software.

Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007, due for release in the
April-June quarter of 2007, will push the software giant into the
business telephone market at a time when many large companies shift to
cheaper telecommunications powered by Voice over Internet Protocol
(VoIP) technology.

Ahead of the official release, Microsoft said it will make the
technology available to 2,500 companies for testing.

The new voice server will allow users to instantly call anyone from
within Office applications by clicking on a person's name and
initiating a call.

For example, a worker who receives an e-mail in Office Outlook from
various colleagues can simply click on each colleague's name to check
their availability and place a person-to-person phone call or arrange
a conference call.

The company's push into the business telephone market pits Microsoft
against Cisco Systems Inc., International Business Machines Corp. and
other technology companies seeking to cash in on growing demand for
VoIP.

Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer has predicted that within 10
years all business communications will be Web-based, meaning hundreds
of millions of people will change how they communicate.

Copyright 2006 Reuters Limited.

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