CENTREX Turns New Tricks - Here Comes Microsoft HMC-Hosted Messaging Collaboration

Here comes the next-generation of CENTREX or what we as old telephone folks called it CENTRal office EXchange service. Oh, the memories. Now the game gets serious with the full power of Microsoft entering the telephony business. Microsoft Solution for Hosted Messaging and Collaboration (HMC) 4.5, a fully hosted unified communications solution with Nortel, and new hosted email offerings from Concentric. Here are key highlights of the announcement:

- Microsoft HMC-Hosted Messaging Collaboration Version 4.5 offers service providers a robust platform to deliver integrated, streamlined communications services to SMBs. A number of partners are working to enhance the HMC 4.5 platform, including BroadSoft Inc., Ensim Corp., ExtendASP, implement.com, Nortel, Parallels, Planet Technologies and Sylantro Systems. These partners have built solutions which range from delivering advanced voice capabilities to empowering end customers with hosting automation tools, as well as developing consulting practices for solution deployments, upgrades and further innovation/customization.

- Nortel is delivering HMC 4.5 resulting in a fully hosted carrier solution that delivers a unified communications experience to SMBs.

- Concentric, a large-scale e-mail service provider is deploying Microsoft Hosted Exchange to combine the productivity benefits of Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 and Microsoft Office Outlook with its enterprise-class applications hosting platform. Concentric will offer new hosted e-mail service offerings for small and medium-sized enterprises.

If you are looking for an end-game for traditional telephony, then here you go.
Maybe it's time for the game to change anyway! I still miss my "crossbar" switch. If you are interested in CENTREX and telephony, you can still see all that at http://www.techtionary.com including images of traditional and next-generation crossbar switches.