The speculation looks like it was right on the mark, according to TMCnet. So while we’re awaiting the official last rights, it really looks like it’s RIP RP.
In many ways this can be seen as the right thin for Microsoft to do. They had a pretty significant overlap in functionality with OCS that meant in certain circumstance it was likely that MS partners were up against each other for the same business. I’m sure there will have been grumblings from those that lost out. Now the coast is clear to produce an “OCS Lite” product that matches the functionality of RP, and probably adds some nice new bits too. Couldn’t be better, right?
But.
Nothing is ever that simple, and I believe that Microsoft’s aborted foray into the SME VoIP space could hurt them for a while yet. It’s all very well to dip a toe in the water, but it’s naive to assume there will be no come-back.
- It remains to be seen what will happen in terms of support, but with no active development existing customers are going to be stuck with a white elephant. A quick glance through the comments on the RP blog will show a lot of partners and customers imploring MS to hurry up with version 2.
- Speaking of partners, how many are now going to feel betrayed. How many will align themselves with rival products in the SME space rather than move over to OCS, where there are a raft of existing partners with a head start?
- By all accounts, RP was pretty easy to install and configure. OCS, on the other hand, is pure MS and so relies on a lot of other MS products (AD, Exchange, IIS, yadda, yadda, yadda) being in place and configured correctly. Perhaps an “OCS Lite” will remove those dependencies, but don’t bet the kids on it.
I suspect this will run for a while longer; if that’s an appropriate analogy for a company that’s just shot itself in the foot.
Latest Comments