Microsoft made a series of key partnership announcements in conjunction with its Unified Communications initiative:
Siemens — Siemens Communications and Microsoft will expand their global collaborative efforts focused on the convergence of telephony, audio, video and web conferencing, instant messaging, and e-mail into a single unified communications platform.
The new agreement expands on ongoing efforts by the two companies to integrate technologies around Microsoft Exchange Server and Microsoft Office Live Communications Server.
Anchoring the initiative will be new products and Siemens systems integration and support services to integrate Siemens HiPath 8000 softswitch real-time telephony with Microsoft Exchange Server and Microsoft Office Live Communications Server utilizing the OpenScape communications broker capability. The joint solution will provide enterprise customers with the ability to transition from conventional PBX and voice-mail communications systems to Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 and Exchange Server 2007.
Motorola — Microsoft and Motorola have entered into a multiyear joint marketing and development alliance to deliver unified communications solutions using Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 across Motorola mobile devices and network hardware. The collaboration is intended to enable enterprise customers to seamlessly connect and share information in real time regardless of location, network or device.
The initial planned offering will start with the Motorola HC700 series rugged mobile computing devices and the Motorola Q smart phone. The offering will combine the presence awareness and instant messaging (IM) capabilities of Communications Server 2007 with Motorola’s Windows Mobile 5.0-based devices through the integration of Microsoft Office Communicator Mobile with Motorola’s MOTOPRO Mobility Suite and Wireless Services Manager (WSM) products, enabling users to seamlessly communicate and collaborate across heterogeneous access networks.
HP — HP will provide enterprise servers and systems integration services for new and enhanced products within Microsoft’s unified communications platform, including Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007, Microsoft Office Communicator 2007, Microsoft Office Live Meeting, Microsoft Office RoundTable, Communicator phone experience and Microsoft Exchange Server 2007.
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