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Microsoft's Communication Products Shift Sparks Mixed Reaction: Page 2 of 2

"Enterprise infrastructure providers have to decide where their products fit in a newly defined solution stack," Glasser said in a research note.

Glasser expected Microsoft to incorporate into OCS capabilities found in computer telephone integration (CTI) systems and in telephone switching systems, called PBXs. As a result, Microsoft partners Genesys, Siemens and Avaya should start wondering whether they are helping Microsoft drive voice communications into the data center, which is handled by IT departments, and relegating themselves to support roles, Glasser said.

Besides the impact on partners, the product change could hurt Microsoft's credibility in the communications market. Killing Speech Server as an independent product could make businesses question whether the company can be trusted to follow through on its promises, Riggs said.

"To be successful, Microsoft does not want businesses questioning whether investments they make today in Microsoft-based communications products will retain their value in the future," Riggs said. "Going forward, Microsoft cannot be so wishy-washy in terms of product positioning if it intends to win the trust of enterprise buyers."