Hellllooooo! Anybody There? Microsoft Gets Communicative
Last week at the SIA tech conference, Microsoft and BT announced a communications alliance (see below). Now HP and LG-Nortel have come out with their plans to work with Microsoft. Jeff Raikes, president of Microsoft’s business division, explains what’s up.
“The desk phone in its current state is lacking as a communications device; and it’s being displaced by the PC. Your desk phone today is pretty much the same desk phone from 10 years ago. By contrast, PC-based communications have improved at a rapid pace. For example, PC software makes it possible to see if someone is available before you send them an IM or an e-mail, what we call “presence,” and calling someone can be as simple as clicking on their name.”
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/jun06/06-25unifiedcomms.mspx
“The current release of Microsoft Live Communications Server has already been embraced by telephony partners as an ideal “hub” for unified communications,” he added.
Is there any escape from work? Doesn’t sound like it, although Raikes tries to put a happy gloss on the workers’ dilemma.
While many people would think of the digital lifestyle and digital work style as being two separate domains of our lives, I think we've all come to see that with the expansion of communications in particular, people are much more fluid; you know, there are times when you're working but you need to be in touch with your family, and there are times when you're with your family and you need to be in touch with work.”
Fluid, huh?
For details on SpeechServer see interview with Microsoft’s Richard Bray, GM for the product
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/jun06/06-25speechserver.mspx
For an overview of Microsoft’s initiatives in communications:
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/jun06/06-25UCGRoadMapPR.mspx
