Microsoft: Certification, More OEMs, Providers for Response Point

Microsoft Corp.(MSFT) is boosting the hardware and interoperability capabilities of its Response Point IP PBX.

The software giant is working to certify Response Point through tekVizion and AST Technology Labs, and has signed three new peripheral OEMs and two new service providers.

tekVizion and AST will certify service providers for the Response Point system. The data, Microsoft said, will give VARs and customers added confidence.

Meanwhile, Quintum Technologies, ClearOne and Sangoma have released or will release hardware to accompany Response Point.

Quintum made a VoIP T1 gateway and an FXS gateway; each of its gateways work with the Aastra, D-Link and Quanta IP phones Response Point buyers can use.

Audio conferencing provider ClearOne soon will introduce the first Response Point-enabled conference phone. It’ll retail for $699 and works with all Response Point hardware.

Finally, Sangoma will launch its NetBorder Express Gateway Card, an SIP-compliant, VoIP media gateway that will come in PCI or PCI Express versions by November.

On the service provider front, Microsoft has added 8×8 Inc. and Bandwidth.com to its roster.

New Global Telecom, Cbeyond and Junction Networks already offer Response Point service.