Microsoft cosies up to networking vendors

Software giant looks to integrate PC and mobile technology

Microsoft has formed partnerships with a range of vendors as an attempt to enhance the integration between business desktop phones and its PC collaboration technologies.

The software giant will work with Alcatel, Avaya, Cisco, Mitel, NEC, Nortel and Siemens to enable interoperability between voice communications solutions and Microsoft Office Communicator 2005 and Office Communicator Mobile.

The purpose of forming the relationships is to make Office Live Communications Server 2005 a "hub for communication" within the business, and enable employees to see if colleagues are available to receive phone calls on landline or mobile, the firms said.

Don Smith, chief executive at Mitel, said: “Mitel is taking the lead in providing multiple commercially available presence-enabled applications on the Live Communications Server platform. Our solution provides for a full, rich, standards-based federated collaboration environment that supports in-the-moment business decisions and improved customer interaction.”

Riaki Tanaka, managing director at NEC Business Solutions, said: “Microsoft Office Live Communications 2005 embraces a host of applications that enables single users and corporations to participate in seamless real-time communication. NEC, through its shared commitment to provide its customers across major corporations with the ability to embrace technologies of significance and achieve outcomes which deliver positive results, makes it and Microsoft the perfect partners.”