Business Customers to Benefit From Combined Voice, E-Mail, Collaboration,
Instant Messaging and Desktop Services
BOSTON, Sept. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today at Fall 2005 VON, Qwest
Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q) and Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT)
announced that they are working together to provide small and medium-sized
business (SMB) customers with a converged communications solution. By
integrating the Microsoft(R) Solution for Enhanced VoIP services with Qwest's
OneFlex(TM) Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) services, Qwest will offer SMB
subscribers a comprehensive managed suite of services that combines VoIP,
e-mail, Internet access, collaboration, presence, instant messaging and
desktop services.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO )
Qwest and Microsoft expect the service will be available in 2006. Qwest is
the first service provider to integrate the Microsoft Solution for Enhanced
VoIP Services.
"Small and medium-sized businesses want access to the same types of
communications services that large enterprises enjoy today, but the investment
and resources required to manage those services have traditionally been out of
their reach," said Tom Richards, executive vice president of the business
markets group at Qwest. "With Microsoft, we can make this a reality for our
customers. We'll be able to provide SMBs with powerful, yet easy-to-use
telephony and desktop capabilities."
"Although pricing has certainly been a key factor in the early development
of the VoIP industry, we believe that it's the richness of the customer
experience that will ultimately drive mainstream adoption of VoIP," said
Michael O'Hara, general manager of marketing for the Communications Sector at
Microsoft. "Qwest is focused on delivering greater value to its SMB customers,
and we're pleased to be working with Qwest to offer integrated communications
services that enhance their customers' productivity."
The Microsoft Solution for Enhanced VoIP Services combines hosted versions
of Microsoft server products including Microsoft Exchange Server 2003,
Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 and Windows(R) SharePoint(R)
Services with Sylantro Systems' Application Feature Server. This solution, in
concert with the Qwest OneFlex Hosted VoIP services, offers a multiservice
platform through which Qwest can deliver a rich set of services and telephony
capabilities to SMBs, as well as enterprises and consumers.
About Qwest
Qwest Communications International Inc. is a leading provider of
high-speed Internet, data, video and voice services. With approximately
40,000 employees, Qwest is committed to the "Spirit of Service" and providing
world-class services that exceed customers' expectations for quality, value
and reliability. For more information, please visit the Qwest Web site at
http://www.qwest.com.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services
and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
NOTE: Microsoft, Windows and SharePoint are either registered trademarks
or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the
trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.microsoft.com
Photo Notes:
NewsCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org PRN Photo Desk
photodesk@prnewswire.com
CONTACT:
press only, Microsoft United States, Rose
Tucker, +1-425-452-5463, or rtucker@webershandwick.com, or
Microsoft International, Laura Woodward, +44-20-7067-0519, or
lwoodward@webershandwick.com, both of Weber Shandwick for
Microsoft; or Claire Mylott of Qwest, +1-303-965-2689, or
claire.mylott@qwest.com
NOTE TO EDITORS: If you are interested in viewing additional
information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft's corporate
information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were
correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For
additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact
Microsoft's Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts
listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx .
|
