Microsoft unveils Response Point small business phone system

Microsoft Corp. used the Microsoft Small Business Summit to announced a small-business Internet protocol (IP) phone system, code-named “Response Point”, designed for ease of use and manageability.

The new system comes in an easy-to-install box, supports both voice over IP (VoIP) and traditional phone lines, and includes a voice-activated user interface.

Now in beta testing, “Response Point” will be generally available later this year in three models: D-Link DVX-2000, Quanta Syspine and Uniden Evolo (pictured).

The company says it has designed the “Response Point” software to empower small-business customers to manage system changes themselves. The ‘Response Point’ voice commands and speech-enabled auto-attendant promise users a powerful experience that differs from other small-business phone systems on the market according to Rich Tosi, president of Uniden America Corp.

With this new system users will be able to press one button on the handset of a cordless phone and access anyone in the company directory, anyone in his Outlook contacts, and a range of calling features with a few simple words through speech recognition.

In addition to “Response Point,” Microsoft delivers an extensible, software-based VoIP foundation through Office Communications Server 2007 and Office Communicator 2007. Microsoft will distribute the public beta versions of Communications Server 2007 and Communicator 2007 later this month. The Beta 2 release of “Response Point” is scheduled for early April.