Ubiquity Software Corp. and Microsoft Corp. on Monday announced they have signed an agreement to jointly develop, market and sell converged communications solutions to service providers worldwide.
Through the alliance, the companies will deliver solutions that bring together Microsoft Connected Services Framework and Ubiquity’s SIP Application Server (SIP A/S), enabling service providers to quickly bring to market new revenue-generating services for businesses and consumers.
The companies’ joint efforts also will help operators address the integration of service delivery platform (SDP) deployments with next-generation network implementations based on IMS. The combined solutions developed through the Ubiquity and Microsoft alliance will help operators extend the capabilities of IMS to create applications that marry multiple Web services with real-time communications features.
“To maintain competitive advantage, telecommunications providers must be able to rapidly develop service portfolios that will build differentiation, foster customer loyalty and, ultimately, drive new revenues,” said Maria Martinez, corporate vice president of the communications sector at Microsoft. “To accomplish this, they require a comprehensive service enablement strategy, one that goes beyond the capabilities that SDP or IMS can deliver individually. Working with Ubiquity, we can provide operators with an integrated platform that leverages their investment in IMS infrastructure and introduces the innovation found in the Web world, enabling them to deliver rich, converged communications services to their users.”
The applications enabled through the alliance will blend real-time telephony services with the accessibility, flexibility and speed of the Internet. Carriers with wireless and wireline assets will be able to adapt and change components of the services in real time, enabling them to respond quickly to new opportunities in a rapidly changing market.
At GLOBALCOMM 2006, Microsoft and Ubiquity are demonstrating a jointly developed service to showcase the advanced capabilities of the combined platforms. The companies’ “I’m Lost” service demonstration integrates IMS services including those for telephony and location with Web services such as Microsoft MapPoint, Virtual Earth and e-mail, and is designed to help “lost” mobile subscribers receive directions to their destinations either through e-mail or interactive voice response.
As part of the agreement, Ubiquity becomes the latest company to join Microsoft’s Communications Sector Partner Alliance Program. The program offers sales, marketing and product support from Microsoft to network equipment providers, systems integrators and independent software vendors.
Microsoft Corp. www.microsoft.com
Ubiquity Software Corp. www.ubiquitysoftware.com
