Microsoft Response Point Service Pack 1 Available for Free Download

HOUSTON — July 8, 2008 — Today at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2008, Microsoft Corp. announced that Response Point Service Pack 1 (SP1) is now generally available. SP1 is a significant feature update to Microsoft Response Point, easy-to-use and -manage phone system software designed for small businesses with one to 50 employees. Current Response Point customers and partners in the U.S. and Canada can download SP1 for free at http://www.microsoft.com/responsepoint.

“Small businesses want the same powerful, productive and cost-saving features that big businesses enjoy, but tailored to their needs,” said Xuedong Huang, general manager of Microsoft Response Point. “By aligning with industry-leading vendors, SP1 delivers improved performance with many new features like voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) calling, in a complete phone system that can help small businesses and channel partners grow their businesses.”

Response Point SP1 builds on the overall ease of version 1 and enables small businesses to immediately take advantage of powerful new features, including session initiation protocol (SIP) trunking for VoIP calling; click-to-call functionality for any contact using the Assistant software; a call history log; and the ability to select music for parked calls and hold time. SP1 is a simple, free download that takes a matter of minutes for a customer or partner to install.

Aastra Debuts Response Point Hardware

Today at the conference, Aastra Technologies Ltd., one of three Response Point hardware manufacturers, announced the release of its debut Response Point-based phone system, AastraLink RP™. AastraLink RP base unit comes pre-loaded with SP1 and is available to customers in the U.S. and Canada starting today.

“The telephone is a cornerstone of small-business operations and customer relations,” said Yves Laliberté, executive vice president at Aastra. “We’re pleased to partner with Microsoft to deliver AastraLink RP, an easy-to-use, scalable phone system that will help small businesses achieve their business goals.”

Aastra offers a convenient starter package that includes a base unit, external analog telephony adapter and three phones (including one cordless model) for a suggested list price of $2,400. Additional desktop and cordless phones are available ranging in price from $139 to $399 MSRP for the cordless model; prices are estimated retail prices. D-Link Corp. and Quanta Computer Inc. also will begin to roll out SP1 on their Voice Center IP Phone System and Syspine systems, respectively.

New Industry VoIP Partner

Small businesses now have greater choice and flexibility for VoIP service on the Response Point SP1 phone system. Junction Networks, a leading VoIP provider, will offer SIP trunking service to Response Point customers. A small business can activate a new account with Junction Networks quickly and easily using the Response Point Administrator software. Junction Networks offers a pay-as-you-go service model, with no penalties to cancel at any time; a customer needs only a working Internet connection to acquire service and lines. Additional VoIP providers for the Response Point phone system include New Global Telecom Inc. (NGT) and Cbeyond, both of which have been announced previously.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

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