| Microsoft, partners debut IP telephony devices |
May 14, 2007
 Microsoft and nine device manufacturers introduced 15 phones and devices that support Microsoft's "Unified Communications" platform, today at WinHEC 2007. The new devices, from Polycom, LG-Nortel, and others, aim to "connect the workplace phone to email, instant messaging, real-time presence information, conferencing, VoIP, and mobile communications."
Microsoft said it is providing the device manufacturers with design specifications that will help ensure that phones and devices work easily with Office Communications Server and Office Communicator, two key elements of the company's sweeping "Unified Communications" initiative.
Microsoft describes its Unified Communications strategy, rolled out over the past year, as a means to "[combine] email, IM, voice, and video into a single, intuitive system built around people, not technology." The platform comprises a combination of software and hardware, including:- Office Communications Server
- Exchange Server
- Office Communicator
- Live Meeting enhancements
- RoundTable
- Communicator phone experience
- PC peripheral devices
Office Communications Server is described as a SIP-based, real-time communication platform that enables presence-based VoIP call management, audio-, video-, and web-conferencing; and instant messaging "within and across existing software applications, services and devices." Office Communicator, meanwhile, is said to be a unified communications client, offered in desktop, browser-based, and Windows Mobile versions, that works in tandem with Office Communications Server to provide: presence-based, VoIP softphone; reliable, secure instant messaging compatible with multiple public instant messaging networks; and one-to-one and multiparty video-, audio-, and web-conferencing.
Standalone IP phones and other devices coming soon
Among the 15 new phones and devices announced today at WinHEC -- which include Internet protocol (IP) phones, Universal Serial Bus (USB) phones, wired and wireless headsets, conferencing phones, LCD monitors, and laptops -- are a pair of standalone IP phones from Polycom and LG-Nortel, as well as a range of USB-connected phones that connect directly to PCs (pictured below).
 
Two newly-unveiled standalone IP phones: Polycom's CX700 (left) and LG-Nortel's 8540 (right)
(Click each image to enlarge)
According to Microsoft, the 15 phones and devices announced at WinHEC today are all nearing completion of Microsoft's qualification cycle. This, Microsoft said, will ensure that they all work "out of the box" with its Unified Communications software (i.e. Office Communication Server 2007 and Office Communicator 2007). The availability of a wide range of devices that support the Unified Communications platform, in turn, will result in the ability to meet the needs of a broad range of workers, and to deliver increased value to customers, Microsoft added.
Jeff Raikes, president of the Microsoft Business Division, stated, "Today's office phone is marooned on an island, separate from the rest of the communications tools that information workers rely on to do their jobs. By weaving the business phone together with e-mail, instant messaging, presence, conferencing and the productivity software people use most, we are putting voice communications back into business."
Perspective
Information regarding Microsoft's Unified Communications initiative and collaborations has been filtering out over the past year. In May of 2006, the company tipped its plans to collaborate with LG-Nortel in a "broad range" of VoIP (voice over IP) areas, including the development of a new LG-Nortel videophone based Windows CE 6. In June, Microsoft began talking about its Unified Communications strategy, which it said would seamlessly interconnect email, instant messaging, and cellular and VoIP (voice-over-IP) telephony, along with audio-, video-, and web-conferencing. Then, in July, Microsoft and Nortel jointly unveiled a strategic alliance based on a "shared vision for unified communications." Additionally, in August of 2006, Microsoft was reported to be developing a range of corporate desk phones running Windows CE that work with Office Communications Server 2007.
More recently, Microsoft in March of 2007 unveiled details on "Response Point," a VoIP-enabled phone system software platform based on Windows XP Embedded.
This is all part of a "public beta program" involving Office Communications Server 2007 and Office Communicator 2007. Microsoft is inviting other manufacturers of devices and phones to participate in the program.
Today's announcements took place at Microsoft's WinHEC 2007 (Windows Hardware Engineering Conference) show in Los Angeles.
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