Microsoft gets into VoIP PBX, via iTWire:

Microsoft has unveiled an IP phone system for small businesses, with a voice activated user interface. It will be OEMed by D-Link, Quanta and Uniden, initially.

The move will put the company in head on competition with the leading IP PBX vendors such as Cisco, Avaya and Nortel with whom Microsoft has been collaborating to integrate its unified communications tools with their products.

Code named ‘Response Point’, the product is presently in beta testing and will be generally available later this year as an OEM product. It supports both VoIP and traditional analogue phone lines, and includes a voice-activated user interface. It will be launched commercially as the D-Link DVX-2000, Quanta Syspine and Uniden Evolo.

The product was announced at Microsoft’s annual small business summit by Microsoft COO Kevin Turner who said: " 20 years ago Bill Gates had a vision for our company which said, look, I want a PC on every desk and in every home… Now, his new vision for Microsoft is we need to be that uniquely positioned company in the marketplace that can connect the digital lifestyle and the digital work style. And that’s the vision and aspiration for our company. And no better customer segment, again, fits that than the small business owners. And that’s what we’re working hard on.