A number of comms device manufacturers have said they
will build products around
Microsoft’s unified communications software
platform.
At this week’s
Windows Hardware Engineering Conference
(WinHEC), Asustek Computer, GN, LG-Nortel, NEC, Plantronics,
Polycom, Samsung, Tatung, and Vitelix said they will roll-out
devices, including phones, that will become available for use in
the public beta program of Microsoft Office
Communications Server 2007 and Microsoft Office Communicator
2007.
“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,” said Jeff Raikes, president of the Microsoft
business division.
“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,” said Raikes.
The 15 phones and devices, that will be unveiled tomorrow,
include internet protocol (IP) phones, universal serial bus (USB)
phones, wired and wireless headsets, conferencing phones, LCD
monitors and laptops.
Unified communications to fuel pbx growth >>
Businesses interested in taking part in the
Office Communications Server 2007 and Office
Communicator beta programme >>
More information about the public beta programme >>
Microsoft releases private beta of voice server >>
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