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Dear Valued Customer,
This is an exciting time for our industry; rarely have so many new communication concepts come together as they have now. With Microsoft launching its latest Unified Communications solutions, and with a stable of new Windows Mobile products entering service provider channels before year end, we’re witnessing an evolution that will change the game for Canadian telecom carriers. But we’re also witnessing new challenges in the industry. These challenges map back directly to the end users who buy communications products and services. According to a survey conducted by The Strategic Counsel this fall, the common tools people use to communicate today are not especially effective.
Email has let us down – although it remains popular. More than a quarter of Canadians said they use email to conduct business, yet more than a third said they have had emails misinterpreted, and 66 per cent said they need to spend extra time explaining the context and tone of their messages after sending. Meanwhile, 89 per cent said phone and face-to-face conversations are the most effective ways to communicate. This indicates a clear need to integrate voice back into the way people communicate at the office. People want the efficiency of email and the power of voice – combined.
Telecommunications service
providers are the most logical companies to bring the
combined mobile-plus-unified communications platform to
Canadians. After all, Canadians already trust service
providers for many home and office communication
services, and they have witnessed a high degree of
service innovation among Canadian carriers.
More ...
As always, we encourage your ideas and suggestions about what you want to see in upcoming issues. We look forward to receiving your feedback.
Best Regards,
Sean Seaton
Director, Communications Sector
Microsoft Canada
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Q&A with Brownlee Thomas, Ph.D. on Unified
Communications and Mobility
Unified communications, mobility, fixed-mobile convergence ... there are so many changes afoot in the Canadian telecom landscape, so many new challenges – and many new opportunities as well. Looking to make sense of it all? Brownlee Thomas might be able to help. A telecom industry analyst for Forrester Research Inc. in Montreal, Thomas gave Canadian Connections some of her insights about unified communications, mobility, and the opportunities she sees for business communications service providers.
More ...
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In Focus
Microsoft Unveils the Next Step in the Evolution of Communications
Microsoft Canada Co. announced the availability of the next era of communications products, taking the first step towards significantly reducing the cost of the average Voice over IP (VoIP) communication system by half. Together with Canadian customers and technology partners, Microsoft is launching a unified communications solution that brings together the phone, e-mail, instant messaging and video for a consistent user experience, all through software.
More …
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Around the World
Microsoft and Nortel Give Customers a Head Start in Communications Convergence
Companies are looking for ways to improve their communications infrastructure to shorten sales cycles, improve customer service, and drive overall business performance. Responding to this need, Nortel, a leading telecommunications equipment manufacturer, and Microsoft established the Innovative Communications Alliance to help customers move from stand-alone communications methods to unified communications solutions. The Alliance is a joint effort encompassing research and development, go-to-market activities, and systems integration services. The effort unites e-mail, voice mail, instant messaging, and voice communications to create one streamlined user experience. The solutions integrate Microsoft® unified communications technologies with Nortel business-grade telephony, conferencing, and data networking strengths to streamline communications and enhance critical business capabilities.
More …
Telecommunications Company Increases Productivity with New Solution
Telekom Austria, the country’s leading telecommunications company, wanted to improve internal communication and collaboration. It deployed Microsoft® Office Communications Server 2007, which integrates easily into traditional Private Branch Exchange (PBX) systems, making deployment cheaper and less disruptive than a PBX upgrade. This new user-friendly unified communications system helps users to choose between communication methods such as voice, video, text messaging, and Web collaboration. A live presence status can be controlled by the user or be automatically based on Microsoft Office Outlook® 2003 and other sources of information, ensuring that only people able and willing to communicate are contacted, saving time and money. Since the deployment of Office Communications Server 2007, employees at Telekom Austria have increased productivity, further ensuring the company’s position.
More …
Telecommunications Company Improves Collaboration with Unified Communications
Glentel, a provider of wireless communications solutions in Canada, wanted to improve collaboration methods for its employees. To stay competitive, the company needed its work force to quickly and effectively share information and plan business strategies. However, existing communications tools were time consuming and awkward to use. In addition, a growing reliance on hosted Web conferencing services was becoming costly and raised security concerns. Glentel implemented a unified communications solution based on Microsoft® Office Communications Server 2007 and Microsoft Exchange Server 2007. Now employees collaborate and use their time more efficiently with streamlined communications tools, and a more controlled communications environment strengthens security and regulatory compliance. The company will reduce costs by eliminating the need for external conferencing services.
More …
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Spotlight
Microsoft Announces New Partners, Customers and Programs at IBC2007 to Further Its Digital Media Strategy
At IBC2007, Microsoft Corp. announced new customers, partners and programs that further underscore the value Microsoft provides to organizations in the media and entertainment industry. Through its broad range of solutions, Microsoft enables media and entertainment companies to create and manage nearly endless varieties of media and deliver stunning entertainment experiences to their customers.
Microsoft Canada
Communications Page
Get the latest on the Canadian Microsoft Communications
Sector.
Microsoft Canada
Communications Blog
See the latest Microsoft news for the Canadian
Communications Sector.
What's New
Microsoft Launches the New Home of Windows Mobile in Canada
Microsoft Introduces New Technology and Collaboration to Accelerate Business Smartphone Adoption
Microsoft Releases New Search Services for Internet and Mobile Customers
Microsoft Unveils Extenders for Windows Media Center and Internet TV Beta — Connected Entertainment Comes Home for the Holidays
Sprint, Microsoft Deliver Mobile Search Innovations
Microsoft TV to Accelerate Microsoft Mediaroom Deployments With New Interoperability and Qualification Lab
On the Agenda
Unified Communications Launch
December 4, 2007
Toronto, ON
2008 International CES
January 7 – 10, 2008
Las Vegas, NV
Mobile World Congress
February 11 – 14, 2008
Barcelona, Spain
Global Mobile Awards
February 12, 2008
Barcelona, Spain
NAB 2008
April 11 – 17, 2008
Las Vegas, NV
SOFNET
April 28 – May 1, 2008
London, UK
Webcasts for Business
Professionals and Executives
Multiple dates
Webcasts for Technical
Executives
Multiple dates
TechNet Webcasts for the IT
Professional
Multiple
dates
Get expert advice and technical
demonstrations of the latest Microsoft-based technology
solutions that integrate virtually seamlessly with your
organization’s current information environment through The LearnIT
Series.
Find more Events, Live and On-Demand Webcasts here.
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