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Companies Unite for TAPI Interoperability Testing

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Multiple worldwide companies came together for the Second "TAPI Bakeoff" to ensure seamless operation of their applications with different types of telephone systems. Co-developed by Intel and Microsoft, the TAPI specification aims to make the telephone as common a PC peripheral as a monitor or printer. The testing event was held at a unique environment constructed by Northern Telecom in Dallas, Texas, and was attended by 42 companies.

Key Takeaways:

  • The TAPI Bakeoff was a four-day testing event where 42 companies tested their products to ensure interoperability with a variety of telephone systems.
  • The event was co-developed by Intel and Microsoft, and the goal of the TAPI specification is to make the telephone as common a PC peripheral as a monitor or printer.
  • The TAPI specification insulates PC users and applications from the specifics of the underlying hardware, connection mechanism, or telephone network.
  • The event resulted in developers delivering telephony solutions that work with the full range of phone systems found in the marketplace.
  • Companies participating in the Bakeoff included American Megatrends, MediaTrends, Answersoft, Genesys Labs, InteCom, ISDN Systems Corp., Panasonic Communications, Pronexus, SoftTalk Inc., Stylus Innovation, Symantec, and Toshiba America.
  • Mitel Corp., a manufacturer of PBX systems, participated in the Bakeoff and announced confirmed compatibility with Windows 95.
  • Paul Baron, executive vice president of marketing and product development for PAGE TeleCOMPUTING Inc., expressed interest in testing SCRS with TAPI products in Dallas to provide complete compatibility for any telephony platform supported by TAPI.
  • Charles Fitzgerald, product manager of the personal systems division at Microsoft, stated that TAPI is a key building block to transforming the PC into a multifaceted communications platform.

Statistics:

  • 42 companies attended the event.
  • The TAPI Bakeoff was a four-day testing event held in Dallas, Texas.
  • The event was co-developed by Intel and Microsoft.
  • 100% of participating companies tested their products for interoperability with a variety of telephone systems.

Sources:

  • "42 Worldwide Companies Come Together at Second 'TAPI Bakeoff' to Test" PRNewswire, February 7, 1995.
  • "TAPI Bakeoff Participants" MSFT, 1995.

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