Microsoft Expands Opportunities in Computer Telephony and Converged Network Communications

Microsoft announced agreements and plans to expand opportunities in computer telephony and converged network communications for customers and developers using any of the Microsoft Windows operating systems at the Computer Telephony Expo '99. The company previewed new technologies expected to increase the use of Windows as the preferred platform for communications solutions, emphasizing the need for easy-to-use and cost-effective voice and data communications services. Windows, as an open platform that supports standards, provides the infrastructure to meet these customer requirements, coupled with third-party support, offering a comprehensive set of communications technologies and solutions from which customers can choose.

Key Takeaways:

• Microsoft previewed NetMeeting 3.0 conferencing software, offering enhanced ease of use, heightened standards support, and new features to extend its position as the world's most popular Internet conferencing and collaboration program.
• Web-based interactive voice response (IVR) technology will give vendors a new way of creating and deploying voice applications, enabling users to access Web sites via browser software or a telephone and allowing vendors to cost-effectively build scalable IVR and voice-processing solutions using Web authoring tools.
• Microsoft plans to extend Windows Telephony Application Programming Interface (TAPI) 3.0 to Windows 98, enabling a larger group of users to take advantage of the benefits of TAPI 3.0 and providing a larger potential market for developer solutions.
• Microsoft signed agreements with Genoa Technology Inc. to perform testing and verification of TAPI service providers as part of the Designed for Windows Logo Program, and with Dialogic Corp. to enable Microsoft to expand its communications platform support.
• Approximately one-third of the 350 vendors participating in the Windows NT Embedded beta program are working to develop telephony or other communications systems on the new operating system, and more than 450 independent software vendors now offer telephony and fax solutions.

Statistics:

• [350 vendors] are participating in the Windows NT Embedded beta program, approximately one-third of which are working to develop telephony or other communications systems.
• [450 ISVs] now offer telephony and fax solutions.
• [40 vendors] are appearing in Microsoft's Partner Pavilion at CT Expo.

Sources:

• PRNewswire, "Microsoft Announces Plans and Agreements to Expand Opportunities in Computer Telephony and Converged Network Communications"
• Microsoft Corp.
• CT Link