ORLANDO -- Microsoft Corp. today drew a line in the sand for all of
its VoIP and unified communications (UC) competitors, declaring
that the next few years could see the demise of the PBX as
communications become more software-driven.
In his keynote address at VoiceCon Spring 2007, Jeff Raikes,
president of Microsoft's business division, announced public beta
testing of Office Communications Server 2007, the software
heavyweight's VoIP and UC server; and Office Communicator 2007, its
UC client.
In his speech, Raikes predicted that over the next three years,
the average VoIP solution will cost enterprises half of what it
costs today because VoIP systems will move from hardware to
software. He added that over the same period, roughly 100 million
people will be able to make phone calls directly from their
Microsoft Office applications.
Taking a stab at some of Microsoft's main competition, Raikes
compared today's IP PBXs to yachts, noting that they look good,
carry a hefty price tag and are rarely used to their full potential
or value.
"Software-driven communication is bringing a pace that is much
more dramatic," he said, commenting that Microsoft's announcements
mark an inflection point where software and telephony truly come
together.
With software-powered VoIP, Raikes said, companies can boost
productivity, save money, spark innovation and improve their choice
of technology.
Office Communications Server 2007 and Office Communicator 2007
add a host of new VoIP features that allow users to initiate calls,
audio- and videoconferences, instant messages, and other media
through Office applications like Outlook and SharePoint Server,
while also being able to see the presence of others based on
colored icons next to their names and drop-down menus indicating
their preferred means of communication. Essentially, it's
click-to-communicate abilities from Office applications, allowing
users to work together in real time from anywhere or any
device.
Voicemail messages can also be heard through the same interface,
and a record of all communications is kept and stored.
Mobile users can use their office number or other tools, like
instant messaging or audio- and videoconferencing, through a
Windows Mobile operating system.
"It's not just about intelligent communication, it's about
integrated intelligent communication," Raikes said.
He also announced that Microsoft is publishing the Office
Communications Server 2007 interoperability specification, which
shows how Office Communications Server can integrate with other
technologies.
Raikes referred to the software-based model as designed to
"teach that old phone new tricks."
Gurdeep Pall, corporate vice president for Microsoft's Unified
Communications group, said companies can take a phased approach to
implementing Office Communications Server 2007 without having to
abandon the PBXs they have already invested in. He said companies,
over time, can cut over, eventually decommissioning the PBX for
good, using a Microsoft for voice, IM and presence
capabilities.
"This industry will go through a 90-degree shift," Pall
said.
Yankee Group analyst Vanessa Alvarez said Raikes' keynote showed
that Microsoft is "definitely coming to market aggressively." She
said some veiled shots at Cisco and other competitors, like the
yacht and PBX comparison, showed that Microsoft means business.
Alvarez added that solutions available through Office
Communications Server 2007 will rival that of Cisco's TelePresence,
which now is designed mostly for a select few within an
organization. Microsoft is offering UC capabilities to all
information workers.
"Microsoft is making unified communications available to all
information workers, as opposed to just the CEOs," she said. "Why
make something available to only 2% of your organization?"
Other factors, such as cost benefits and the ability to use the
existing network while migrating to Microsoft, are key to its
offering, Alvarez said.
"I don't think the IP PBX will be obsolete," she said. "But
you'll start to see transition from IP PBX systems to a
software-based system."
John Pajak, systems technical consultant for MassMutual
Financial Group, said Microsoft's vision of software-driven
communication will let companies take advantage of advanced
capabilities, all with a level of familiarity.
"It puts something right in front of you through a screen that
everyone's used to: Outlook," Pajak said.
Eric Zeppa, director of information systems for Babson Capital
Management LLC, agreed, noting that he sees software-based VoIP and
communications tools as a practical and simple way for end users to
stay connected.
Zeppa said that Babson has some components of a UC deployment,
including unified messaging, but putting everything together in one
place will enhance that.
"We have a lot of standalone tools," he said, noting that he
uses unified messaging to get messages via his BlackBerry. "We've
got a lot of pieces -- we just don't have it all unified. I feel
like I'm more productive with my BlackBerry, but it's still not
truly unified."
But if Raikes' vision comes about, software will have the same
impact in the VoIP world as it did in the desktop world, he
said.
"Software is set to transform business phone systems as
profoundly as it has transformed virtually every other form of
workplace communication," Raikes said.