Microsoft Response Point Retails on Costco.com

Microsoft’s Response Point IP PBX for small businesses is now available to purchase on Costco.com. The online retailer will offer the Quanta Computer Inc. Syspine Digital Operator Phone System featuring Response Point software.

“Costco.com’s easy online purchase process, combined with Response Point’s easy setup and intuitive magic blue button for voice dialing, gives the small-business owner another easy way to gain a powerful communications tool to help grow his or her business,” said Richard Sprague, senior director, Response Point at Microsoft Corp.

Response Point is a software-based IP PBX that is packaged as an appliance by three OEMs, including Quanta Computer Inc., Aastra Technologies Ltd. and DLink Corp.

Quanta’s Syspine Digital Operator Phone System with Response Point features a voice-recognition system that can be linked with a company’s internal phone directory, as well as an individual’s Microsoft Office Outlook address book. Syspine includes a base unit appliance with a four phone-line analog telephone adapter, four desktop phones and Response Point phone system software. Businesses can add up to 50 individual Syspine IP310 business phones to create a complete, integrated small-business phone system with no additional licensing fees.

A spokesperson for Microsoft told PHONE+ the strategy  complements traditional VAR sales channels. While most small businesses will be able to install the Response Point systems out of the box,  those requiring assistance can contact a trained specialist or VAR.

“We see the partnership with Costco.com as an effective means to reach more small businesses and share how Response Point can help their business,” said Sprague. “We encourage small businesses who would like assistance implementing their Response Point system to work with a trained VAR in their area, which they can find on our website.  In turn, these new customer relationships can lead to recurring revenue opportunities for the VAR from maintenance, support, VoIP services, ancillary networking services and computer sales.”