Monday, March 12, 2007

Microsoft Executive Makes VoIP Predictions

A senior Microsoft executive predicted last week that the average cost of VoIP service for businesses will tumble by a staggering 50% over the next three years.

Jeff Raikes, President of Microsoft’s Business Division, said that the falling prices will be apparent as VoIP systems make the shift from hardware to software. He went on to say that 100 million people will be able to make calls from Microsoft Office applications during this same time period.

“Software is set to transform business phone systems as profoundly as it has transformed virtually every other form of workplace communication,” said Raikes.

“Over time, the software-based VoIP technology built into Microsoft Office Communications Server and Microsoft Office Communicator will offer so much value and cost savings that it will make the standard telephone look like that old typewriter that’s gathering dust in the stockroom.”

Raikes indicated that Microsoft plans to distribute the public beta version of Office Communications Server 2007, Microsoft’s VoIP and unified communications server, and Office Communicator 2007, to testers later this month.

Read the rest of the story

No comments: