Aastra Announces New IP Phones for Microsoft Communications Server "14"

Aastra, a provider of enterprise communications solutions, announced that it has expanded its IP phones portfolio with the addition of two new models optimized for Microsoft (News - Alert)Communicator “14.”

Microsoft Communications Server “14” is a platform for presence, instant messaging, conferencing, and enterprise voice. It is a follow-up to Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2.

The new phones, Aastra (News - Alert)6721ip and 6725ip, tightly integrate with Microsoft Communications Server “14” and offer user-friendly access to its features, making them powerful unified communications or “UC” devices, the company said.

According to Kirk Gregersen, senior director of Communications Server Marketing at Microsoft, the combination of Microsoft Communications Server “14” software with Aastra’s latest IP Phones offers customers a more connected experience.

“By working with Microsoft, Aastra provides customers richer connectivity, transforming every communication into an interaction that is more collaborative, engaging and accessible,” Gregersen added.

Aastra 6721ip and 6725ip phones were designed with a focus on providing a superior user experience to facilitate the adoption of unified communications. Important features include an intuitive interface on a full color 3.5' LCD screen; navigation keys to access to the most essential calling features; and wideband audio which enhances the clarity of all calls.

The phones can operate independently from a PC so can be easily and widely deployed, company officials added. In addition to this, the Aastra 6725ip offers PC connection via USB cable for a tight integration with Microsoft Communications Server “14.”

Industry analysts say Aastra’s 6721ip and 6725ip phones will help deliver Microsoft customers more choice in telephony end points than previously made available to them.

The new phones also open new opportunities for Aastra in the unified communications market.

The 6721ip phone offers users choice of functionality at a cost effective price point providing an entry level phone appropriate for most users or common areas as an alternative to the mid-range, feature-rich 6725ip phone, the company said. Both models enjoy the same proven Aastra reliability and quality.

“The introduction of the 6721ip and 6725ip continues Aastra’s strategy of providing great choice, high quality and value to the enterprise communications market,” Simon Beebe, vice president of Product Management, responsible for IP phones at Aastra, said.

“We’re excited about this opportunity to work together with Microsoft to deliver compelling UC solutions to meet the demanding needs of today’s workers to communicate in a variety of ways,” Beebe added. 

The 6721ip and 6725ip will be available for sale in conjunction with the release of Microsoft Communications Server “14.'

In February, Aastra announced that its MX-ONE Compact, a full-featured IP-PBX (News - Alert)solution, has received a “Best of Show Award” at TMC’s ITEXPO East 2010 in Miami.

Rajani Baburajan is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Rajani's articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Michael Dinan