10/19/2009 -- Microsoft and BroadSoft will promote their Hosted Unified Communications (UC) product at a BroadSoft event later this month.

The event, BroadSoft Connections 2009, starts on Oct. 25 in Scottsdale, Ariz.

The two companies first launched their jointly built UC solution for hosted service providers and telcos in October of last year. The solution combines technologies from BroadSoft's BroadWorks VoIP platform along with the Microsoft Solution for Hosted Messaging and Collaboration Version 4.5.

BroadSoft, based in Gaithersburg, Md., essentially brings the voice-over-IP solution to the table, while Microsoft's platform adds a combination of Exchange Server 2007 and Windows SharePoint Services to the mix. The joint Hosted UC solution supports instant messaging, presence, videoconferencing, voice and Web conferencing -- all delivered to customers via software as a service.

BroadSoft also is working to integrate its technology with Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0, with the aim of displaying customer contact information by tapping into the phone system's caller ID service. In addition, the BroadWorks SIP trunking technology has been certified to work with Microsoft Office Communications Server, which is Microsoft's premises-installed UC platform.

Current adopters of the BroadSoft-Microsoft Hosted UC platform include U.K.-based Outsourcery Ltd. and Philadelphia-based Alteva. Alteva plans to begin a commercial rollout of the Hosted UC service in the first quarter of next year, according to an announcement issued by Microsoft.

Ensim Corp., based in Santa Clara, Calif. is also a partner with the BroadSoft-Microsoft collaboration. Ensim provides interfaces into BroadSoft's and Microsoft's platforms that can be used by service providers to help provision new UC customers. --Kurt Mackie