CHICAGO — June 5, 2006 — Ubiquity Software Corp. and Microsoft Corp. today announced they have signed an agreement to jointly develop, market and sell converged communications solutions to telecommunications service providers worldwide. Through the alliance, the companies will deliver solutions that bring together Microsoft® Connected Services Framework and Ubiquity’s award-winning SIP Application Server (SIP A/S), enabling service providers to quickly and cost-effectively bring to market new revenue-generating services for businesses and consumers.
The companies’ joint efforts will also help operators address critical issues such as the integration of service delivery platform (SDP) deployments with next-generation network implementations based on IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). The combined solutions developed through the Ubiquity and Microsoft alliance will help operators extend the capabilities of IMS to create applications that marry multiple Web services with real-time communications features.
“To maintain competitive advantage, telecommunications providers must be able to rapidly develop service portfolios that will build differentiation, foster customer loyalty and, ultimately, drive new revenues,” said Maria Martinez, corporate vice president of the Communications Sector at Microsoft. “To accomplish this, they require a comprehensive service enablement strategy, one that goes beyond the capabilities that SDP or IMS can deliver individually. Working with Ubiquity, we can provide operators with an integrated platform that leverages their investment in IMS infrastructure and introduces the innovation found in the Web world, enabling them to deliver rich, converged communications services to their users.”
The applications enabled through the alliance will blend real-time telephony services with the accessibility, flexibility and speed of the Internet. Carriers with wireless and wireline assets will be able to adapt and change components of the services in real time, enabling them to respond quickly to new opportunities in a rapidly changing market. At GLOBALCOMM 2006, Microsoft and Ubiquity will demonstrate a jointly developed service to showcase the advanced capabilities of the combined platforms. The companies’ “I’m lost” service demonstration integrates IMS services including those for telephony and location with Web services such as Microsoft MapPoint®, Virtual Earth™ and e-mail, and is designed to help “lost” mobile subscribers receive directions to their destinations through either e-mail or interactive voice response (IVR).
As part of the agreement, Ubiquity becomes the latest company to join Microsoft’s Communications Sector Partner Alliance Program. The program offers sales, marketing and product support from Microsoft to network equipment providers, systems integrators and independent software vendors. In addition, alliance partners are provided with development and production environments for testing real customer solutions.
“This alliance provides an excellent fit for our strategy to enable leading carriers, operators and application developers to deliver innovative services that blend Web services with real-time telephony to build and deploy multimedia services such as click-to-conference and other real-time enabled services,” said Ian McLaren, CEO at Ubiquity Software. “By aligning Ubiquity with Microsoft we bring together the recognized leader in IT and Web services with the leader in real-time SIP communications to combine capabilities that can be leveraged by carriers worldwide.”
Additional information can be found by visiting Microsoft booth No. 34031 and Ubiquity booth No. 38015 at GLOBALCOMM in Chicago.
About the Ubiquity SIP Application Server (SIP A/S)
Ubiquity’s SIP A/S is an “open,” standards-based service creation platform that has been selected by carriers to enable the rapid development and deployment of a broad range of advanced communications services. SIP A/S is a high-performance software platform designed specifically for telecommunications applications to allow carriers to offer innovative voice, data and video services. The SIP A/S offers a programmable, horizontal platform that makes it easy to add new features and applications to carrier networks.
About Ubiquity Software
Founded in 1993, Ubiquity Software (LSE: UBQ.L) is revolutionizing the communications marketplace with solutions that enable service providers to quickly develop and deploy innovative revenue-generating services. Ubiquity offers deployment platforms, applications, development tools and integration technology for converged voice, video and data services. Ubiquity’s SIP Application Server (SIP A/S) is the services deployment platform standard for the world’s leading telecommunications carriers. Through the Ubiquity Developer Network (UDN), Ubiquity partners with leading network equipment vendors, systems integrators, ISVs and developers to bring new multimedia communications solutions to a rapidly changing global market. Ubiquity is headquartered in Cardiff, Wales, with corporate offices in Ottawa, Canada, and Redwood City, Calif., with sales offices in Japan and China. For more information, visit www.ubiquitysoftware.com or e-mail [email protected].
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
Microsoft, MapPoint and Virtual Earth are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx.
