Small-Business Phone System Updated

Phone systems based on the most recent version of Microsoft’s small business private branch exchange (PBX) software, Response Point 1.0 SP1, are scheduled to be available from OEM partners Aastra, D-Link, and Quanta in summer 2008. While the new capabilities could reduce ongoing communications costs and offer users modest productivity enhancements, less technically savvy customers may want to seek implementation assistance from a telecommunications specialist trained in Response Point.

A Response Point system consists of a hardware base station, handsets, a PC-based management console, and (optionally) desktop workstations running software that provides features such as on-screen notification of incoming calls (via a pop-up window). SP1 updates the software for all of these components. The software necessary to upgrade deployed units will be available on Microsoft’s Response Point site and on OEM sites, and Microsoft claims the upgrade can be performed on Response Point systems without any interruption in service. However, customers will likely rely on one of the more than 1,000 trained Response Point specialists rather than perform an upgrade themselves.