NXTcomm08, Las Vegas--Microsoft announced a fully hosted unified communications (UC) solution, with Nortel leading the way on delivery.

Microsoft Solution for Hosted Messaging and Collaboration (HMC) 4.5 gives service providers a platform to deliver communications to small and medium businesses (SMBs).  Microsoft has signed up a number of partners to enhance HMC 4.5, including BroadSoft, Ensim, Nortel and Sylantro Systems. Partners have built solutions to cover a wide range of capabilities from advanced voice capabilities to hosting automation tools, as well as consulting practices for solution deployments, upgrades, and more customization.

Nortel, Microsoft's best buddy for UC partnering, is delivering the first integration with HMC 4.5 for a fully hosted carrier solution for SMBs.  The hosted solution is based upon Nortel's CS 2000 softswitch with HMC 4.5 on top of it.  SMBs can get a hosted solution that combines voice with Microsoft's collaboration services such as click-to-call, click-to-conference, missed call email messages, mobility and telephony presence.

For more:
- Microsoft announces HMC 4.5 [1]
- Nortel delivers hosted HMC 4.5 solution [2] for carriers

Related articles:
Microsoft gets into unified comms [2]
Nortel welcomes Microsoft's OCS [2]