After Microsoft and Sylantro signed the letter of intent (June 6, 2005)to develop and market enhanced VoIP solutions for telecommunications operators, Qwest and Microsoft announced that are working together to provide small and medium-sized business (SMB) customers with a converged communications solution (Fall 2005 VON, Sept. 20, 2005). This work is being done by integrating Microsoft Solution for Enhanced VoIP Services and Qwest's OneFlex VoIP services.

Two weeks ago, On Dec. 28, 2005, Microsoft, SOFTBANK BB Corp., and JAPAN TELECOM CO. LTD., announced that they are developing a security-enhanced, integrated communications service that combines VoIP, e-mail, Internet access, groupware, presence, instant messaging and desktop services with network infrastructure, and that they have formed a strategic business alliance to provide this service as a business-oriented solution.

SOFTBANK BB is Japan's largest carrier of IP phone services. SOFTBANK BB's expertise combined with Microsoft Solution for Enhanced VoIP Services, SOFTBANK BB will be delivering a services platform providing rich messaging, presence and collaboration functions in addition to high-quality voice services.

JAPAN TELECOM is one of the largest Information & Communications Technology solution service providers in Japan with a more than 13,000 km nationwide fiber optic digital network. JAPAN TELECOM plans to couple this integrated communication service with its high-quality networking infrastructure and managed network operation to provide its own information communication technologies platform service to the corporate market.

Linking the Microsoft Solution for Enhanced VoIP Services with BB Phone’s voice platform and JAPAN TELECOM’s managed network service will enable small and midsize businesses to take advantage of enterprise-class communications services, including VoIP services, to achieve increased productivity through internal and external real-time communications.

The companies plan to begin trials of the integrated communications services in early 2006.

The Microsoft Solution for Enhanced VoIP Services comprises hosted versions of Microsoft server products including Microsoft Exchange Server 2003, Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 and Windows SharePoint Services with Sylantro Systems Corp.’s Application Feature Server.