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Microsoft HMC + BroadSoft = UC in the cloud

20.10.2009
When people think of Microsoft's collaboration applications, SharePoint, some of the Office and Exchange functionality, and experimental tools like spring to mind. But another product should be added to the list: Microsoft's . HMC is aimed at service providers seeking to offer SMBs and other clients Outlook, Office, and SharePoint services without having to deal with expensive on-premises installations.

But one of the most interesting aspects of HMC is its ability to extend collaborative functionality to non-Microsoft applications. This month, Microsoft and Broadsoft are a partnership that integrates HMC and BroadSoft's unified communications suite, BroadWorks. Both are being sold as an integrated "UC as a service" offering that gives users a single desktop interface for a wide range of communications tools.

This is not a trivial undertaking. The Microsoft applications include calendaring, email, IM, and some collaboration tools, but the BroadWorks suite brings voice, IM, videoconferencing, webconferencing, and CRM functionality to the mix. In addition, BroadSoft also says that service providers can leverage its Xtended program to bring such as Salesforce.com, Sage Software's Act CRM products, and Microsoft's own Dynamics CRM software.

The Standard asked BroadSoft about costs, but was told that service providers -- which include Alteva, Outsourcery, and LightEdge -- set pricing, which is "almost always" on a per-seat, per-month utility model.

: Microsoft.com, msdn.com, BroadSoft/Microsoft press release, TMCnet.com, BroadSoft.com, act.com, emails with BroadSoft employees.

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