14 DAY TRIAL // With the release of the first service pack for Response Point, Microsoft plans to extend the current range of services offered by the product. In this manner, the Microsoft Response Point phone system will be able to deliver to its target customers - small businesses - a full digital voice solution. SP1 for Response Point is scoped for the summer of 2008, and the Redmond company has announced partnerships with Cbeyond and New Global Telecom in order to introduce superior voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) services to its phone system.
Microsoft's focus on the small-business segment has been constantly increasing, and the development of Response Point comes to emphasize this trend. "Brought together, small businesses will experience all the benefits of Response Point's magic blue button for voice dialing with the reliable voice services of these providers," revealed Xuedong Huang, general manager of Microsoft Response Point.
Huang added that Microsoft's alliance with VoIP leaders Cbeyond and NGT is designed to position Response Point, starting with SP1, as a complete digital voice product. "We've conducted thorough tests of the services delivered by Cbeyond and NGT and are pleased to align with these leaders and engage their channels to deliver Response Point as a complete VoIP solution to small businesses," Huang explained.
Following the delivery of SP1, Response Point customers will be able to leverage the advantages offered via the digital voice service based on SIP. Both Cbeyond and New Global Telecom use the common protocol Session Initiation Protocol.
"Small businesses that combine our BeyondVoice with SIPconnect service and the Response Point phone system will gain the advantage of communication tools that big businesses enjoy, at an affordable price," stated Rob Consolazio, vice president of Marketing and Business Development at Cbeyond. Mike Donnell, president and CEO of NGT added that "we have designed the Digital Voice Partner Program to cater to the needs of Microsoft Small Business Specialists and are pleased to provide a nationwide digital voice program to the Microsoft community."