Microsoft goes for VoIP
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Hide the kids, here he comes. Who? The monster, Microsoft and his giant ogre appetite. Last week, at the 3GSM in Barcelona, Spain, Steve Balmer announced the forthcoming Skype-like VoIP for MS mobile phones. Analysts from ‘the City’ already predict large billions wipe off from the current telcos such as Vodafone.
Yikes. Will they nail Skype?
Probably the Skype success is responsible for the move. But bear in mind that for a long time, Microsoft has been luring on the mobile phone market, for instance by launching its Windows CE a decade ago but reached a tiny success.
But there’s over competition already out there
If you still doubt about the Microsoft bold appetite, read on. As wrote Tony Glover from the British daily The Business: “Steve Ballmer chose a topical Valentine’s Day theme for his announcement. ‘I love the mobile industry and I love our operator partners, and I want to have that message precede all we’re about to show,’ Ballmer said in Barcelona. He went on to demonstrate how a mobile phone running Windows Mobile can be used to make a free voice call over the internet. Ballmer told the audience: ‘That was a VoIP call.’”
So what are their plans?
Simply add VoIP free call feature in the mobile version of MS Office Communicator, which would be in about two months, according to IDG. Free phone is said to be a powerful enticement to overturn other telcos tariffs. MS users have to get a WiFi-enable phones and the software which will use SIP protocol to connect people. Some secondary features will be also incorporated such as presence awareness.
Will it rapidly wipe out Vodafone and other telcos?
Time will tell. Microsoft isn’t at its first try to rule this market. For 2 years, they set up many partnerships to prepare their strategy, while announcing and announcing their imminent entry. Recently, they acquired Teleo and yet announced PC to PSTN (landlines, mobiles) by the end of 2005 in MSN Messenger. Which still is a promise.
Another weakness of Microsoft VoIP offer is that it will be available only for enterprises, not yet for consumers. Neither call forward as Gizmo Project, Skype or Vonage.
Feb 20, 2006 | By Nuno
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