Microsoft's grand plan to eliminate phone numbers

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MS can do five 9's.

When was the last time Microsoft's website was down? I've run Exchange, file servers, apps servers, and domain controllers at 99.99% (four 9's) without doing any clustering, loadbalancing, or having special hardware.

So yes, MS can do five 9's. I'm not saying it is as easy as falling off a log, but with the right hardware, process, and procedures, it can be done.

As to ringing multiple devices (yes, simultaneously, not sequentially) - you can get this from many VOIP providers today.

Local numbers - again, something I can get from VOIP providers today. I wonder if what Bill's talking about is basically local virtual numbers: I dial the local virtual number for my friend, and the VOIP back-end patches it through to his cellphone 5 states away. My friend does not need portability for the number - he doesn't even need to know it. It's just *my* private virtual number to the bridge that rings his phone.

As to how telco/cellcos will handle this - most likely it is totally up to them to figure out rate plans and such. MS will probably be marketing the platform to telco/cellcos, rather than the service directly to end users (though I would not rule that out).

I could definitely use some of these features. I applaud your wanting details, but your skepticism is misplaced. All of these things are possible now - the only questions I have would center around implementation and stability (financial stability that is). Far too many small VOIP startups right now seem wobbly enough to push them over with a feather. So I want to see a larger company, one with a history and a fairly guaranteed future, getting into these next-gen services.

The other question is, as you point out, whether or not there is a market for this. *I* want it, but by myself I'm not much of a market.

Posted by: quux   Posted on: 05/30/08  (Edited: 05/30/2008 @ 05:14) You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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