Microsoft Unites VoIP and PBX

May 24, 2007: Microsoft and twelve partners have announced plans to bridge VoIP and established communications systems, bringing the two disparate worlds together with Office Communications Server 2007.

Microsoft, in partnership with the likes of Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco, NEC, Nortel, Ericsson, Siemens and more will be pushing the interoperability specification for its software, promising interoperability with approximately 90 percent of communication systems.

The specification makes it possible to deploy VoIP services alongside existing PBX systems, brining together existing communications infrastructure with new IP-based communication. By integrating the two, Microsoft says that businesses will be able to take advantage of VoIP without sacrificing investment in older technology.

“As the traditional business telecommunications model evolves, businesses are seeking guidance for the best way to leverage their existing assets as they deploy unified communications,” said Gurdeep Singh Pall, corporate vice president, Unified Communications Group at Microsoft. “This broad industry support will give business the assurance that Microsoft's unified communications software will work with the applications and networks they have today.”

The solution consists of Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 and Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 and Microsoft Exchange Server 2007.

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