Microsoft wants to dump the PABX

MICROSOFT is determined to consign the traditional switchboard (PABX) to the dustbin of history. And Covergence plus Interoute aim to allow it to do so.

The trio want corporate users to "bin that black phone" and use the PC as the prime tool for communications. All you have to do is run Microsoft's Live Communications Server (LCS) or Office Communications Server 2007.

On paper this gives the PC access to a whole bunch of communications facilities including regular telephony, video telephony, fax and instant messaging (IM).

The catch is that while corporates appreciate the cost benefits of free VoIP calls, they're naturally reluctant to connect their networks to the public internet because of the implicit security considerations.

Which is where Covergence comes in with a bunch of black boxes it calls session border controllers. They're designed to give system managers direct access to stats on who's doing what over the network.

Which is all well and good but in the real world business people need to speak to others outside the cosy corporate LAN. That's where Interoute comes in.

As the operater of one of Europe's most advanced data networks, it aims to let any business with an LCS server talk to any other business using LCS. In the industry's jargon this process of inter-connexion is known as 'federating'.

Moreover, you can break out of its network and make regular calls too. So you can talk to people on ordinary land lines or mobile phones.

What's the biggest advantage to using a system like LCS rather than regular phones? The answer lies with SIP or 'presence'.

Thanks to SIP before you send somebody an instant message or chat to them on the phone you can see if they're actually online.

According to Interoute's Robert Ibbitson, any business with a supply chain will buy into this concept because - thanks to presence - you can instantly see who's online and able to answer your question.

What this pair are offering - unified messaging - has been touted for years. However, they claim to be the first to be able to turn all the facilities LCS can offer into a reality.

It's not actually necessary to throw away the switchboard - especially if it's an IP PABX. But for those following Microsoft's vision of the way things should go, switchboards will become entirely unnecessary.

For those who like product demos, you can see this service in action here. µ

L'INQ
Covergence.