Computer Telephony Industry Embraces Microsoft Windows

LOS ANGELES, March 4, 1997 — More than 100 companies today demonstrated broad support of the Microsoft® Windows® operating system as a telephony platform by introducing and showcasing Windows-based products at the Computer Telephony (CT) Expo. Microsoft, continuing its innovation in this industry, will release a developer beta version of Windows telephony applications programmer interface (TAPI) version 2.1.

A wide range of Windows-based telephony solutions was demonstrated at the event. These products have been built on the Windows 95, Windows NT® Workstation, Windows NT Server, and Windows CE operating systems. The products range from personal, consumer-oriented applications to carrier-class, fault-tolerant telco central office systems. Companies showcasing Windows-based telephony products include ActiveVoice Corp., Altigen, AnswerSoft, Applied Voice Technology, Callware, Coresoft, Ericsson Business Networks, Harris Digital Telephone, Inter-Tel, Lucent Technologies Inc., Mitel Corp., Navitel, Nortel, Octel and Sphere Communications.

“The most exciting new communications applications are being developed on the Windows platform,”
said Cameron Myhrvold, vice president of public network sales and business development at Microsoft.
“Today’s announcement reflects solid industry support, and it underscores Microsoft’s commitment to continue investing in and innovating Windows to enable it to be the platform of choice for telephony.”

Client-Server Telephony Built Into TAPI 2.1

The Windows telephony application programmer interface, a cornerstone of the Windows telephony platform, enables telephony software written by one company to work with telephony hardware provided by another. TAPI is open, supports any type of call model, and is built into the Windows client and server operating systems.

TAPI 2.1 is designed to make client/server telephony applications easier and less expensive to develop and deploy. TAPI 2.1 includes a TAPI remote service provider, a client management tool, and extensible client management APIs.

The remote service provider enables end-to-end communications between TAPI-based client PCs and TAPI-based server PCs. Previously, independent software or hardware vendors had to provide more of this client-to-server code. The TAPI client manager is a basic server administration tool that associates user client PCs to telephone lines and features. The extensible client management APIs enable third-party companies to provide enhanced telephony client management and control from the telephony server.

To learn more about Windows-based telephony products and TAPI, including how to obtain the TAPI 2.1 developer release SDK beta, please visit Microsoft’s Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/commserv/default.asp . Broad availability of TAPI 2.1 is expected in the second quarter of 1997.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

Microsoft, Windows and Windows NT are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.


For more information, press only:

Kristal Bergfield, Waggener Edstrom, (503) 443-7000, [email protected]


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