Remembers Well

Did Microsoft Bet on the Wrong Networking Partner?

Industry-watchers secretly knew Microsoft/Nortel was a bad idea on Day 1. Nortel's portfolio is OK at best and clearly not Microsoft's first choice. Avaya's Karyn Mashima gave a delightful interview a few years ago where she detailed Microsoft's strident overtures towards Avaya which were <smartly> rebuffed. Nortel viewed Microsoft as a white-knight who could kick-start an indolent product line.

Events really didn't unfold that way. Both sides talk about all the joint customers, yet there is scant detail on what they actually bought. A sure sign that the answer is "not much."

Then in March 2008, Microsoft snubbed Nortel in Contact Center by selecting the equally daft choice of Aspect.

And what does Nortel have to show for their cherished alliance? One edge router that has the Microsoft Mediation Server embedded into it. It still costs the same as the separate pieces, it's just in one box. Otherwise there is NOTHING Nortel can do with Microsoft that any other vendor can't...a condition I suspect we'll see with Aspect.

I'm sure there's a calendar on the wall at Microsoft checking off the days until the four year alliance is over. That will be about the same time that Microsoft OCS will be a "real" PBX and not need Nortel's beard anymore.