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BroadSoft to Integrate Hosted VoIP Services With Instant Messaging and Presence Solutions for Enterprises

Posted on: Tuesday, 19 October 2004, 12:00 CDT

BOSTON, Oct. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- VON Fall -- BroadSoft(R) Inc., the leading provider of network communications platforms, today revealed that they are working with Microsoft to integrate Microsoft's Live Communications Server 2005 and the forthcoming next generation live communications client, which supports instant messaging (IM) and presence capabilities for enterprises, with BroadSoft's BroadWorks(R) platform, which supports next-generation hosted voice communications. Integrating the two solutions allows enterprises and service providers to take next-generation communications to a higher level and enhance productivity by "presence-enabling" voice calls.

"Microsoft is dedicated to delivering innovative enterprise-grade real- time collaboration solutions to enable people to work together more effectively," said Andrew Sinclair, Director, Real-Time Collaboration Business Unit, Microsoft. "By integrating the secure instant messaging and presence capabilities in Live Communications Server 2005 and our new client with voice solutions from BroadSoft, we're helping enterprises to realize the business benefits of rich, presence-based Integrated Communications solutions."

The integrated solution allows users to launch high-quality and secure multimedia services from within any Windows application. For instance, an employee can select a user from an IM list or within Active Directory and initiate a conference call. Participants will automatically be contacted at their preferred end point (cell, office, home) depending on their "presence" on the Microsoft Office Live Communications Server.

"The convergence of VoIP with instant messaging and presence is a perfect vessel for showcasing the business value of messaging in the enterprise," said Dave Passmore, research director of the Burton Group.

"The integration of BroadWorks and Microsoft's Live Communications Server is a compelling proposition for enterprises that wish to provide information workers with improved control over their communications -- and increase productivity."

"Rather than building our own presence and instant messaging product, we chose to align ourselves with a clear market leader in this space -- Microsoft. By doing so, we're providing a solution that allows businesses to quickly improve their productivity by using their existing messaging and presence capabilities in innovative new ways," said Michael Tessler, CEO and president of BroadSoft. "We look forward to expanding our relationship with Microsoft to make it even easier for businesses to benefit from our respective capabilities."

BroadSoft also announced it has been invited by Microsoft to participate in Microsoft's early Technology Adoption Program for ISVs with strategic market share in select business applications. As a member of this program, BroadSoft will be well-positioned to develop BroadWorks voice applications that leverage the telephony capabilities of Microsoft applications.

More than 80 service providers worldwide have selected the BroadWorks platform, including BellSouth, Covad, MCI, PCCW, SingTel and Telstra, with more than 600,000 licenses shipped. BroadSoft's BroadWorks provides a comprehensive range of VoIP applications, including hosted PBX, IP Centrex, residential broadband voice and collaborative conferencing fully integrated into a single hosted communications platform. BroadWorks is uniquely capable of providing these applications with the reliability, redundancy, scalability and regulatory capabilities required to deliver carrier-class service.

Microsoft Live Communications Server 2005, the Istanbul communications client, and BroadSoft's BroadWorks will interoperate via their mutual support of the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

ABOUT BROADSOFT

BroadSoft is the leading supplier of network communications platforms to service providers and channels in the enterprise and residential markets. BroadSoft's flagship product, BroadWorks, provides a comprehensive range of applications including Hosted PBX, IP Centrex, residential broadband voice and collaborative conferencing, fully integrated into a single platform. The company has the largest customer base in its space worldwide, including BellSouth, Covad, MCI, PCCW, SingTel and Telstra. BroadSoft is located near Washington, DC, in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and maintains a research and development facility in Montreal, Canada. Additional information can be found at http:/// http://www.broadsoft.com/.

BroadSoft and BroadWorks are registered trademarks of BroadSoft, Inc. All other names are trademarks of their respective companies. Microsoft and Outlook are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

BroadSoft Inc.

CONTACT: Hilary Tomasson of BroadSoft, +1-240-364-5147,htomasson@broadsoft.com; or Cameron Smith of Calysto Communications,+1-404-266-2060, x19, At VON cell: +1-978-996-6701, or csmith@calysto.com, forBroadSoft

Web site: http://www.broadsoft.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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