Matt1979

Did Microsoft Bet on the Wrong Networking Partner?

It's very clear from your statement that you haven't a clue what you're talking about. As in Microsofts own advertising strategy written about in this blog it's not about hardware but about software and services. Nortel have exactly the same strategy moving forward. So edge router - who cares... that's not what it's about!

On the note of hardware however it is probably worth noting that the Nortel PBX is the only PBX certified for under the Microsoft certification program for dual forking, remote call control and direct SIP.


On Nov 05 10:17 AM Remembers Well wrote:

> 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.