Nine industry-leading companies to unveil 15 phones and other devices

optimized for Microsoft's unified communications software.

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    LOS ANGELES, May 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Monday at the Windows
 Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) 2007, Microsoft Corp. and nine
 industry-leading companies - ASUSTek Computer Inc., GN, LG-Nortel Co. Ltd.,
 NEC Corp., Plantronics Inc., Polycom Inc., SAMSUNG, Tatung Co. and ViTELiX
 - will introduce a new generation of devices that connect the workplace
 phone to e-mail, instant messaging, real-time presence information,
 conferencing, voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and mobile
 communications.
     (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO )
     Beginning tomorrow, a new wave of phones and devices will become
 available for use in the public beta program of Microsoft(R) Office
 Communications Server 2007 and Microsoft Office Communicator 2007.
 Microsoft is providing the device manufacturers with design specifications,
 helping to assure customers that the new phones and devices work easily
 with Office Communications Server and Office Communicator.
     "Today's office phone is marooned on an island, separate from the rest
 of the communications tools that information workers rely on to do their
 jobs," said Jeff Raikes, president of the Microsoft Business Division. "By
 weaving the business phone together with e-mail, instant messaging,
 presence, conferencing and the productivity software people use most, we
 are putting voice communications back into business."
     Using an open approach and published software interfaces, Microsoft is
 enabling companies to innovate new workplace phones and devices that make
 business communications more effective and productive. The products are
 nearing the end of the Microsoft qualification cycle, which will help
 ensure the devices and phones deliver the following:
      --   "Just Works" experience. The qualified phones and devices work out
           of the box with Microsoft unified communications software. It's as
           simple as plug-and-play.
      --   Greater choice and innovation. With an active partner community
           building phones and devices, customers are offered more choices when
           it comes to designs, cost and feature innovations. The 15 phones and
           devices to be unveiled tomorrow include Internet protocol (IP)
           phones, Universal Serial Bus (USB) phones, wired and wireless
           headsets, conferencing phones, LCD monitors and laptops.
      --   Improved economics. Because many companies will deliver Microsoft-
           qualified devices, customers will have more options, including
           devices tailored to the needs of specific types of workers and that
           deliver more value for less cost. According to Gartner Inc.,
           "handsets typically cost around 40 percent to 45 percent of the
           total telephony installation."*
     Businesses interested in taking part in the Office Communications
 Server 2007 and Office Communicator beta program can join at
 http://www.microsoft.com/uc. Images of the phones and devices to be
 unveiled tomorrow are available at
 http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/uc/gallery.mspx.
     More information about the public beta program is available at
 http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2007/mar07/03-06VoiceCon07PR.mspx.
     Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in
 software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize
 their full potential.
     * Gartner Inc., "Evaluate Alternative SIP Devices for IP-PBX
 Implementation," Isabel Montero, Steve Blood, Jan. 8, 2007.
     Microsoft is a trademark of the Microsoft group of companies.
     The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the
 trademarks of their respective owners.
 
 

SOURCE Microsoft Corp.

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