Microsoft (News - Alert) will be introducing the first service pack for the Response Point business VoIP system this summer, according to an announcement today at the Microsoft Small Business Summit. The service pack will include new features, chief among which is digital voice services, better known as SIP trunking.

 

Previous Response Point releases only allowed analog lines to connect to the PTSN, but now small businesses will have the ability to connect via the internet. That will likely translate to cheaper calls and easier management.

 

“Small businesses rely heavily on the phone to communicate with customers, and want a solution that allows them to reliably reach as many customers as possible at a low cost,” said Microsoft’s general manager of Response Point, Xuedong Huang. “Response Point SP1 will make it easy to transition from traditional analog service to the promise of digital voice services.”

 

Other added features include click-to-call and the ability to see which users are on the phone at any given time. Some of the features are of the kind which had previously only been available in medium size and enterprise level systems, and will allow business to scale more quickly and cost-effectively than with PSTN lines.

 

Service Pack 1 will grant small businesses access to local VoIP phone numbers, thus helping them to maintain a local presence. It will also assist small businesses in maintaining customer relationships by way of support for Direct Inward Dialing, a makor VoIP feature.

 

The improved VoIP service will allow small businesses to appear larger than they are. Nevertheless, some observers point out the need to assure that the network is set up properly, lest the new connectivity option leads to poor call quality. Since Microsoft has no way of managing to helping in that process, it’s important that VARs stay plugged into the Response Point product. Service Pack 1 will be made available via a free download as well.

 

Aastra (News - Alert) Technologies and Quanta Computer will begin shipping Response Point systems pre-loaded with SP1 this summer. The release coincides with Aastra’s own release of its first Response Point system.

 

Research indicates that a business of 10 to 19 employees stands to save approximately $8,000 in the first year by using Response Point or other VoIP systems.

 

In order to familiarize small businesses, VARs and Microsoft channel partners with the product, Microsoft will be conducting classroom training and information sessions, including a 12-city training tour. There will also be a Response Point solution segment tomorrow during day two of the Microsoft Small Business Summit.