Microsoft Response Point, currently in beta testing with vendor-branded solutions publicly available later this year, is a small business IP Telephony (IPT) solution targeted at organizations with fewer than 100 phones. The platform promises to greatly simplify deployment and administration while providing several key benefits to the end user. However, while the product meets these objectives, some key drawbacks will limit its appeal.   

Microsoft's Small Business Response

The upcoming Response Point solutions, developed by Microsoft and being delivered in conjunction with hardware partners D-Link, Quanta, and Uniden, will consist of a single base unit, optional analog telephone adapter (ATA) gateway, and IP phones designed specifically for each platform. The three announced Response Point models, viewable here and available for Q3 2007 through each vendor's existing channels...