Finding Voice-Over-IP In Istanbul

One of the biggest problems has become an ideal component, VoIP technology. Simply put, VoIP has taken center stage and is experiencing rapid growth, but at the expense of isolating other technologies that could be complementary to a VoIP-centric solution.

Of course, many vendors realize the potential of combining VoIP with a unified messaging system, but complexity, costs or even political concerns have quashed much of the potential success of rolling out an affordable, effective unified-messaging client.

The situation has created a vacuum in the communications universe. Just as nature hates a vacuum and will do anything to fill it, so does technological juggernaut Microsoft.

Taking the stage at the Fall 2004 VON Conference and Expo in Boston, Microsoft introduced a unified client beta, code-name Istanbul. Microsoft is hoping Istanbul becomes the client of choice and plans to integrate it with a new version of the Office Live Communications Server (LCS). The company promises to bring desktop videoconferencing into the mix, along with the expected instant-messaging and e-mail capabilities.

What's more, Istanbul leverages a single interface to switch from instant messaging to conferencing to traditional telephony. That should address the ease-of-use issues that often surround unified messaging solutions.

What will all of this mean to the channel? Simply put: opportunity. The concepts behind unified messaging promise to change the way businesses interact and will help to close the distance between remote locations by vitalizing interaction.

But can Microsoft pull it off, or will the historic insistence of bending the standards prevent Istanbul from becoming the success that the unified-messaging market needs?

Those solution providers looking for success will need to start early, in other words, "run, don't walk" to get your hands on the public beta of Istanbul and its related technologies. Look to the CRN Test Center as we start waging how much "bull" is in Istanbul.

What do you predict for Microsoft's Istanbul? Let me know via e-mail at [email protected].