Microsoft states its credentials as a VoIP transition expert

As Microsoft prepares to bring its VoIP As You Are campaign to the UK, we speak to Mark Deakin, Product Manager, Unified Communications Group about how PBX users can embrace VoIP without the pain of 'rip and replace'

Click on any number of US technology sites and you’ll see Microsoft’s new VoIP ad campaign - VoIP as You Are. The message?

Don’t rip out and replace your old PBX…….. Software, not hardware, is the future of communications……… Microsoft’s powerful software-based VoIP solution integrates with Active Directory, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Exchange Server, and your PBX ……… and delivers VoIP, presence, enterprise IM, Web conferencing, and operational control at a fraction of the time and cost it would take to put in new hardware. It's called Microsoft Unified Communications.

“Our message is all about organisations making an orderly transition to IP communications” says Microsoft’s Deakin. “Our Unified Communications software leverages organisation’s existing investments in Microsoft Exchange and popular PBXs, and we provide customers with advice through Microsoft consulting services or via our Microsoft partners with a Unified Communications specialism”.

“We’re coming at Unified Communications from the ‘desktop’ side, not the ‘telephony’ side” he adds. “To Microsoft, UC works better - and is more – when it combines email, IM, web conference, presence and other media. We’re less involved in fixed mobile convergence products - for example, handsets that switch between office and mobile networks as you move about - than some other vendors.”

Deakin suggests that a 3 step approach to moving to VoIP and UC is appropriate for many organisations:

1. Upgrade to Microsoft Exchange Server 2007: This will deliver truly unified voice and email – i.e. you’ll no longer have Voice Mail in one place and email in another.

2. Invest in Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007: Currently in beta, OCS will launch in he UK later this year.

3. Enable VoIP for Microsoft OCS: Look to cut calling costs, gain new future rich applications and more, with full unified messaging enabled through Microsoft Exchange Server 2007. (For a detailed list of how VoIP can benefit your organisation, go to: http://www.voipinbusiness.co.uk/what_is_voip.asp)

With UC enabled via Microsoft OCS, all anyone needs to know is your name, telephone number and email address” explains Deakin. “If someone calls your phone number, the call can be directed to any phone, dependent on your presence and instructions. And your email address become a true ‘communications identity’ i.e. your email and IM address as well as your SIP Unique Resource Indicator.”

What’s the driving force behind the change to UC and VoIP? Deakin believes the need for IM and presence is driving UC adoption, while VoIP interest often originates from outside the office. “People are going up to their IT departments demanding VoIP” he claims. “They have it at home and now they want to use it in the office as well.”