Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft Corp does not want to see any part of the digital automation process that is not touched by Windows, and the company has developed a specification for computer integrated telephony for the MS-DOS personal computer, with which, needless to say, it is aiming to set the industry-standard. Meanwhile, a group of computer-telephony users and suppliers have formed a group to push the technology’s benefits. Called Windows Telephony, Microsoft’s Applications Programming Interface has won the support of around 40 switch manufacturers, network providers and personal computer and software suppliers. It is initially intended for desktop personal computers, although Microsoft says it will later be extended to server environments and other computing systems. It provides for visual call control through the Windows interface, for call forwarding, conferencing and call transfer. It should also enable the integration of electronic mail, voice mail and facsimile, as well as desktop audio and video conferencing. The programming interface is available now, and has won the support of suppliers including Intel Corp, L M Ericsson Telefon AB, Siemens AG, Alcatel NV and Lotus Development Corp, which are expected to start bringing out products based on it by the end of the year. Meanwhile vendors and users including Aspect Telecommunications Inc, Envoy Systems Inc, Ericsson, IBM Corp and Logica Plc have formed a group called the Association of Computer Telephone Integration Users & Suppliers or ACTIUS. According to Envoy Systems’ Peter Krall, the group’s aim is to create awareness of computer-integrated telephony rather than to make standards. Krall is cautious about Windows Telephony’s ability to win enough industry support to become a standard. There are a lot of proprietary interfaces, and it will need an awful lot of work to integrate them, he said. And there are already rival specifications, such as IBM’s CallPath, Digital Equipment Corp’s CIT and Envoy’s TeleLink. ACTIUS is to hold its first open meeting in association with the Call Centre Management Conference, and is inviting members and prospective members along to help direct the group’s future direction.
