VoipPRO.org

Microsoft integrates VoIP with its Share Point product to answer to the challenge of Cisco the subscribers of which are able to use presence awareness, IM and VoIP on select mobile phones. Redmond will release its new Communications Server product February 2009 in the unified communications space. It provides users with ability to change their phone system with Microsoft software.

This product will replace a PBX system with Microsoft’s VoIP software on a server and allow buyers to make calls to any phone number and from within Microsoft documents and to add audio conferencing.

We have already got the ability to connect via IM or VoIP in real-time simultaneously sharing online documents, but we’re still eager to get that one-stop depository for all our communications. And Microsoft offers us that depository tying the next generation Communications Server with its SharePoint software. This allows buyers to see presence and call within Microsoft programs, what means users don’t have to go to a separate presence application to talk over VoIP or IM about a spreadsheet or Word document. That will make Office the one-stop shop for all even real- time communications.

Cisco is taking another line. They are planning to make a separate layer of communications services such as IM and VoIP that will sit in the network and work across different applications. If it becomes a well-integrated, neutral distributor it will gain the upper hand over Microsoft.