Microsoft offers comfort for PBX suppliers

Fears that Microsoft were planning to take a bite out of the PBX market were placated by a blog posting from Microsoft's unified communications manager Mark Deakin.

Some worries had been raised that the software giant's launch of Office Communications Server (OCS) 2007 would act as a replacement for current PBX services.

This has also resulted in some industry analysts cautioning current VoIP users that any product from Microsoft will be lacking in features common to their solutions.

But Mr Deakin called for an online ceasefire in the war of words.

He suggested that the interest in VoIP may lead people thinking they would lose out as a business without it and that current PBX services would have to completely ripped out.

But he then said: "Quite the contrary actually, OCS will bring 'VOIP as you are' ... no need for rip and replace ... just add software to what you have already.

"With the launch of OCS 2007 in sight, we have started an ad campaign in the US which will slowly move across the world. Put simply, we will offer 'VOIP as you are'."

A number of suppliers of VoIP equipment have signed up to a code created by Microsoft that will ensure their services and products can work successfully with OCS, which will be launched later this year.