posted by: Mark Cortner
In a previous post related to managed UC services, a reference was made to Microsoft’s Hosted Messaging and Collaboration (HMC) platform. The HMC platform is part of Microsoft’s SaaS strategy to align with cloud-computing initiatives.
The HMC platform includes Exchange Server 2007, Office Communications Server (OCS) 2007, and Office SharePoint Server 2007 and can be implemented as a fully hosted or hybrid model to deliver UC applications and services. The platform can be combined with softswitch-based IP communications services for hosted or SaaS-based service delivery models.
For example, Microsoft and Broadsoft, a leading provider of carrier-class VoIP application software, have announced the general availability of a joint, hosted UC solution for delivery of cloud-based UC services including telephony. Broadsoft’s Broadworks platform provides carrier-class business telephony applications for next-generation, softswitch-based carrier networks. The announcement between Microsoft and Broadsoft follows a broader announcement by Microsoft earlier this year on its intentions and plans for the HMC platform.
The product overlap between Cisco and Microsoft in the UC market continues to grow, with each vendor’s competitive positioning in the SaaS-based UC market; Cisco with its WebEx Connect platform and Microsoft with its HMC platform. With the announcements mentioned above, Microsoft has formed relationships and partnerships with carrier-class telephony application vendors as a critical step to delivering a full cloud-based UC story. The next move may be Cisco’s and how it positions premises-based Unified Call Manager enterprise telephony platform and cloud-based telephony will be interesting …
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