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Broadband & Mobile Featured Article
August 15, 2008
Microsoft Manager Touches on Achievements, ITEXPO
By Rich Tehrani President and Editor-in-Chief
Microsoft (News - Alert) Corporation is an American multinational computer technology corporation that develops, manufacturers, licenses and supports a wide range of software products for computing devices. The company’s best selling products are Microsoft Windows operating system and Microsoft Office suite of productivity software. I recently had the chance to interview Xuedong Huang, the general manager of the company’s Communications Innovation Center.
RT: What has been your company’s biggest achievement in 2008 so far?
XH: We launched Response Point SP1 8 months after launch 1.0, proving we can deliver innovative releases rapidly. Microsoft Response Point and OCS provide a comprehensive VOIP solution from small business to enterprise customers.
RT: What can we expect to see from your company for the next 12 months?
XH: Both Response Point and OCS will continue to improve. For Response Point, we expect to see more partnerships with ITSPs and peripheral manufacturers, demonstrating even more ease-of-use through our magic blue button.
RT: How do you see the communications market evolving?
XH: The most innovative products will be the easiest to set up and use.
RT: What company made the biggest contribution to communications this year?
XH: Microsoft!
XH: Not much to communications market yet.
XH: Apple is able to package and sell iPhone in a way that attracted a lot of attention.
RT: What mobile phone(s) do you use?
RT: What do you think the communications market might look like in five years?
XH: The magic of software will rule. Much more attention to ease of use – all products will be far easier to set up and use. I also believe in the power of natural user interfaces: speaking is easier than typing; reading is easier than listening. You’ll see more devices with speech recognition that understands what you say, combined with good display technology that makes it easier for you to select among multiple options.
XH: I will explain why simplicity and natural user interface are core to the adoption of next-generation communications products.
RT: What type of attendees do you think should come to your session?
XH: Anyone interested in the challenges of creating new products that are both powerful and easy at the same time.
RT: Why should customers choose your company’s solutions?
XH: Response Point is the easiest phone system for small organizations to set up and use.
RT: Please make one surprising prediction for 2009.
XH: Communications industry will be rapidly turned from a “vertical industry” into a “horizontal industry” in the same way as what happened to the computer industry in the 80’s.
Rich Tehrani is President and Group Editor-in-Chief of TMC. In addition, he is the Chairman of the world�s best-attended communications conference, INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference & EXPO (ITEXPO). He is also the author of his own communications and technology blog.
