Microsoft Unveils Pricing for Small Biz VoIP System

Taiwan-based Quanta will begin taking pre-orders for its Syspine system on Oct. 5. A package that includes a base unit with built-in ATA and secure gateway as well as four phones will cost approximately $2,500. Additional phones will cost $159 each.

Microsoft had also named Uniden America, Ft. Worth, Texas, as an OEM partner in March when it first introduced the product line, but Uniden has decided not to ship product this year, Smith said.

Smith stopped short of saying that Uniden America had pulled out as an OEM partner. "We continue to work with them and are positive about our relationship overall," Smith said.

Meanwhile, communications networking vendor Aastra Technologies, Ontario, Canada, has signed on as Microsoft's newest hardware partner with plans to ship Response Point-based phone systems with wireless handsets next year, Smith said.

In addition, Microsoft Financing will be available for all Response Point systems, enabling customers to pay for all associated software, hardware and installation fees over a three-year period, Smith said.

Microsoft expects to have about 1,000 solution providers trained on Response Point by the time products begin shipping. D-Link and Quanta are also training channel partners, Smith said.

Response Point is comprised of three software pieces: the call processing software that runs on the base unit; Response Point Administrator, a management console for monitoring system health and making moves, adds and changes; and Response Point Assistant software, a client application for Windows PCs that enables on-screen call notification.

Kevin McLaughlin contributed to this story.