One Size Fits Nearly All Businesses
Response Point from Microsoft (News - Alert) is a really simple telephony solution for the less than 50 telephone user setting. Ideally, the number of users for their four to eight analog business line solution is more like 20 phones. To put this in perspective, this size range covers the 5,255,810 out of the 5,885,784 or 89 percent of the U.S. businesses according to the U.S. Census Bureau (2004). This figure is only slightly larger according to Inc.com in 2006. In any event, Response Point fits nearly all SMB applications except for some high-volume small call center applications. The other key point is the simplicity of the system itself which consists of three systems – base unit about the size of a paperback book, phones and optional gateway to the telephone company or not if you have access to a LAN switch. There is software, of course, which provides for Outlook integration, phone features and really-easy customer administration.  You could argue that this is not really anything different than what is available from a wide variety of existing vendors. However, the point is that this system is most likely to be available from your existing Microsoft solutions provider. This also means that the Microsoft channel partner can use their expertise in one more way to help the customer. That is, the customer gets one more product from one fewer and smarter source. What has been found to be true in survey after survey, including those I have done for a lot of companies is that the number one thing customers want is – one stop shopping. 

 

One-Stop Shopping
Distribution for Response Point is extensive. With more than 1,500 trained dealers and more on the way, Response Point is available in the U.S., Canada, and expansion elsewhere into English-speaking countries is scheduled for 08/09 along with PTT localization. Response Point is even available at Costco. However, if you are not a DIY-do it yourself telephony or IT person, there are local dealers you can select from on the Microsoft Response Point website: http://www.microsoft.com/responsepoint/

One of the more innovative dealers is David Bainum of RiteTech (http://www.ritetech.net) who does a wiring “health check” prior to any installation. Most dealers recommend a complete network performance check due to the wide variety and age of computers, switches, routers, cabling and even electrical systems.   David also recommends that customers install a backup power system to minimize outages and phone “reboots” due to outages along with POE-power over ethernet as Response Point phones and other SIP phones all require electrical power. Another Response Point dealer is Andrew Swingler who just launched http://www.ipphoneshack.com a one-stop portal for Response Point products and SIP trunking.

Pricing 
Response Point is an exceptional simple system with a tiny hardware “footprint.” The base unit hardware and telephone sets are manufactured by three key vendors D-Link (http://www.dlink.com), Aastra (News - Alert) (http://www.aastra.com) and Quanta (http://www.syspine.com). Remember YMMV-you mileage may vary when it comes to TCO-total cost of ownership as customers may also need new cabling, switches, and other devices. While there are many sources for Response Point products, one example, not necessarily the lowest or the highest is the Syspine base unit price for four lines: $1999.00 and for eight lines: $2249.00 with the phones $159 each. Combination package deals run $2499 for base and four phones and $3599 for base and ten phones. $1270 for four lines and $1424 for eight lines. Aastra is the only system to date that offers a cordless system and D-Link does not support POE. 

 

“Parts is Parts” – Key Components to the Response Point System

Here are the key components. While, there are some differences between hardware manufacturers, each of the three systems has the same Microsoft Response Point software.

 - Response Point IP PBX (News - Alert) software running on Windows XP embedded steady-state storage for optimum hardware reliability

- Built-in voicemail

- VoIP gateway

SIP Phones

- SIP endpoints (devices) connected to LAN switch

- Response Point button enables one-touch voice commands

- Auto discovery and configuration

Management & Client Software

- HTML-based management console (on a PC in the LAN) for moves, adds, changes and managing system health

- Client software on a client PC for Outlook contact integration, on-screen incoming call notifications and easy access to forwarding rules or personal preferences

- Users can use as many features or add as many phones as they with NO additional software license fees

 

PSTN Gateway (News - Alert) (Public Switched Telephone Network – local business telephone service)

- Not needed if access via existing data bandwidth and SIP trunking service

- 4 or 8 port base configuration - Loop Start Analog Lines

- Easy expandable in any line increment

- No additional software or port licensing fees 

One of the key features in any new telephone solution is support for SIP trunks/trunking. Response Point in their latest SP1 release provides for support for SIP trunks. Like with any SIP trunk solution, Response Point is compatible with most SIP Trunk provider solutions. However, New Global Telecom (http://ngt.com), CBeyond (http://www.cbeyond.net/) and Junction Networks http://www.junctionnetworks.com/ all have been approved for their respective SIP trunk solutions. NGT also has a very comprehensive channel partner program that provides dealers with assistance in customer billing and other issues.

 

Response Point is the “new kid on the block” in a highly competitive marketplace. Maybe the world doesn’t need another telephony solution but Response Point is more about office communications than just another piece of plastic on your desk, it enhances communications, simplifies installation and user activities, improves office productivity and time management and is competitively-priced. So don’t believe me take a look for yourself at http://www.microsoft.com/responsepoint/

 

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