Microsoft Triple Play

\nToday at SUPERCOMM 2005, Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) announced that it is providing the innovative software-based solutions telecommunications operators require to deliver a variety of services over Internet protocol, or SoIP. With the addition of voice over IP (VoIP) capabilities to its solution set, Microsoft offers a comprehensive portfolio of robust solutions that allow service providers to build, manage and combine voice, video and data services.

"While everyone would like to find that silver bullet, we believe it's not just one killer app or service that's going to drive the growth of telecommunications services," said Maria Martinez, corporate vice president for the Communications Sector for Microsoft. "It is services over IP, or more specifically, the aggregation of services over IP that will transform the way we work, live and play, today and well into the future.

Microsoft's Communications Sector is focused on collaborating with service providers to build software-powered service networks that will help them create new revenue opportunities and enhance the customer experience." Microsoft offers telecommunications providers robust, software-based solutions that facilitate the delivery of revenue-generating services over IP:

* Data services. Microsoft delivers a full range of data solutions that carriers can host in their networks and offer to enterprises, small and medium-sized businesses, and consumers. For instance, the Microsoft(R) Solution for Hosted Messaging and Collaboration is a hosted version of Microsoft's family of productivity server products: Microsoft Exchange Server 2003, Live Communications Server 2005 and Windows(R) SharePoint(R) Services.
* Video services. Microsoft TV is a family of software solutions that enable advanced digital TV services for broadcast and broadband networks. Microsoft TV solutions support the features operators need to deliver competitive services today, and are continually being enhanced to enable the digital TV networks, content, services and connected experiences of tomorrow.
* Voice services. Microsoft is adding VoIP capabilities to the Microsoft Solution for Hosted Messaging and Collaboration by integrating it with Sylantro Systems' Application Feature Server. The resulting product will enable service providers to offer subscribers sophisticated yet easy-to-use VoIP, e-mail, collaboration, presence, instant messaging and desktop services.

To provide critical service creation, deployment and management capabilities, Microsoft offers Connected Services Framework, an integrated software solution for building and managing complex services using a service-oriented architecture (SOA) and Web service interfaces. Connected Services Framework allows telecommunications operators to aggregate, provision and manage converged communications services for their subscribers, regardless of network or device.

"With Connected Services Framework, telecommunications providers can rapidly and easily bring together not only Microsoft applications, but also operator-developed services and a broad array of third-party offerings and content to create new combinations targeting specific customer segments," Martinez said. "This aggregation is unique to the Microsoft solution, and it allows operators to develop differentiated offerings that will attract new subscribers, build customer loyalty and drive new revenue streams."