Aspect Supports Virtual Launch of Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 Release 2 with Platinum Sponsorship

Aspect, a unified communications (UC) and contact center software and services provider, announced its support of the virtual launch of Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 Release 2 as a platinum sponsor. At the event, Aspect will highlight its UC services offerings, which provide strategic planning and implementation capabilities for companies deploying unified communications strategies and Aspect® Unified IP™ 6.6 with its Ask an Expert function leveraging the capabilities of Office Communications Server 2007.

“We’re looking forward to the launch of Office Communications Server 2007 R2 and to being able to deliver the expanded UC capabilities for the enterprise and the contact center to our customers,” said Mike Sheridan, senior vice president of strategy at Aspect. “The strategic alliance between Microsoft and Aspect is helping companies improve productivity and the customer experience they deliver. This release of Office Communications Server will help companies make significant inroads on their UC journey.”

The Office Communications Server 2007 R2 launch is one-of-a-kind because it is an online virtual event that includes a keynote address, fifteen breakout sessions, online areas for attendees to view product demonstrations, explore customer experiences, and learn about offerings from Microsoft and its partners. At the Aspect booth, attendees will be able to view videos, listen to a UC podcast, and read white papers and other key documents.

“Microsoft is excited by the tremendous opportunity Office Communications Server 2007 R2 brings to a leading UC services and software company like Aspect to deliver strong business value through innovative unified communications technologies, including the integration between Office Communications Server and Aspect Unified IP,” said Betsy Frost Webb, general manager of Microsoft Unified Communications Group at Microsoft Corp. “ Both Microsoft and Aspect remain focused on our global strategic alliance and our joint, on-going commitment to develop solutions and services that streamline communications, resulting in enhanced business processes and increased business productivity for customers across the entire enterprise.”

Throughout the duration of the event, Aspect will be showcasing:
• Aspect Unified IP 6.6, which seamlessly integrates with Office Communications Server 2007 to empower contact center agents with presence and preference information on experts in the enterprise. Combined with routing and prioritization capabilities, this Ask an Expert functionality enables contact center agents to engage any appropriate, available expert to assist with a customer inquiry.
• The UC services offerings from Aspect help organizations plan, implement and support UC products across their enterprises and into their contact centers. This practice, within Aspect® Professional Services, supports the Aspect strategy to provide services and software that turn the potential of UC into real business results.

For more information, call Aspect at 1-888-412-7728 or register for the Office Communications Server 2007 R2 launch today at www.microsoft.com/communicationsserver.

Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 is an update to the award-winning Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007, to deliver a variety of new capabilities within the contact center. These capabilities are next generation collaboration including persistent group chat and dial-in audio conferencing to reduce service provider bridge costs, new voice features to enhance Office Communications Server voice for teams and mobile/remote workers and new tools to streamline business processes by integrating communications within applications.

About Aspect
Aspect provides software and consulting services that turn the potential of unified communications into real business results across the enterprise and in the contact center. Applying 35 years of insight and experience, Aspect helps more than two-thirds of the FORTUNE Global 100, as well as small and medium enterprises, power their business processes with communications. For more information, visit www.aspect.com.