Microsoft prepping its move into Voice over IP
In Tokyo this week for a Microsoft partner conference, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer told attendees that Microsoft is planning on making a move in the VoIP arena at the beginning of next year. VoIP is currently white hot, with everyone and their grandmother basking in the glory that is dirt-cheap (or often free) calling across the globe. Ballmer and the folks at Microsoft are hoping that the buzz of a VoIP/Vista tie-in might help move Windows Vista a little faster.
VoIP, meet Vista
The crown jewel of the arrangement will be service and application-level integration of VoIP calling in Windows Vista itself. Microsoft has released few details regarding what the actual implementation might look like, except to say that it will unify email, VoIP, video chat, and instant messaging, and that it will be integrated into the operating system. Ballmer also noted that VoIP integration would be supported on the server level, as well.