Microsoft and Telstra strategic alliance to deliver comprehensive business services

Microsoft Corp. and Telstra today announced their intention to enter into an Australian industry first - a broad strategic alliance to bring together business software applications, mobile services and devices, and integrated computer and telephone services over Telstra’s Next IP™ and Next G™ networks.

The alliance is designed to enable the two companies to bring together the benefits of some of their key products and services to help Australian businesses increase productivity and compete more effectively at a local and global level.

Telstra Group Managing Director, Product Management, Ms Holly Kramer, said Telstra and Microsoft would collaborate to deliver truly integrated communications services to Australian businesses.

“Telstra is excited to have the opportunity to partner with Microsoft to bring to market the best of both worlds - world leading applications from Microsoft delivered over Telstra’s world class networks - all in a seamless one-click, one-touch user experience,” Ms Kramer said.

"Our customers are seeing convergence between networks and applications and between fixed and mobile devices. We are turning this convergence into meaningful products that deliver a better user experience and productivity benefits for their businesses.

“This is true unified communications - a combination of telephony, email, mobility, conferencing, collaboration and tools like presence - and it will change the way many Australian businesses operate,” Ms Kramer said.

The companies plan for the first products to be introduced in market by mid 2009.

Ms Tracey Fellows, Microsoft Australia’s Managing Director, said Australian businesses stood to benefit from a wide range of next generation technologies that are simple, low maintenance and cost effective, allowing employees to achieve more, in more places.

“Today’s news marks a watershed moment in helping bring a new generation of powerful software and services to a wider audience of Australian businesses,” Ms Fellows said.

“In particular, the planned alliance would provide small and medium sized businesses, of which there are over 1.8 million in Australia, access to products and services that were formerly only available to large companies with well-resourced IT budgets and infrastructure.”

Ms Fellows added that the planned alliance would also be beneficial for the wider Australian technology industry.

“There are thousands of Australian IT businesses, consultants and partners who resell or distribute Microsoft and Telstra products and through this planned alliance we intend to help them take advantage of new opportunities to invest and grow their businesses and open up new markets,” she said.

The alliance intends to offer a range of next generation services that are simple to install and use, and require lower maintenance than many current offerings. A wide range of business and government segments would potentially benefit from an array of new services. Services contemplated under the alliance include -

* Hosted business applications: through Telstra’s T Suite portal, it is contemplated that businesses will have access to popular Microsoft business software, known as Microsoft Online Services, which will be hosted by Microsoft in the cloud and delivered as a subscription service.
* Mobile services and devices: an all-in-one mobile email, calendar, contacts, web browser, business software and phone solution including security features, automatic software upgrades, support and data plan is envisaged. Advanced mobile phone fleet management and a new user-interface developed by Telstra giving users one-click access to their frequently used business applications on Windows Mobile phones is contemplated.
* Unified Communications: Integrating Telstra’s premium hosted IP Telephony service (TIPT) with Microsoft Office applications, including Office Communicator is proposed which will make it easier to control the way businesses communicate.

About Telstra

We are Australia’s leading telecommunications and information service company, with one of the best known brands in the country. We offer a full range of services and compete in all telecommunications markets throughout Australia, providing more than 9.6 million Australian fixed line and 9.4 million mobile services, including 4.4 million 3G services.

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.