AT&T, Microsoft set SDP alliance

AT&T and Microsoft are joining together to develop new services for the carrier's business customers. The move is seen as a major boost for the service delivery platform (SDP) concept, an integrated set of software modules that enable carriers to launch and manage potentially thousands of services to fixed and wireless customers alike. The companies said they plan to "develop innovative services in the areas of collaboration, messaging and communications services," using Microsoft's Connected Services Framework (CSF), Microsoft's SDP, which it launched earlier this year.

The collaboration will include the integration of AT&T's business VoIP service into the CSF, giving the service Web-enabled functions such as click-to-dial. AT&T is one of a growing number of big carriers to back SDP. Key Microsoft rivals, including Sun Microsystems and BEA Systems, are also working on the concept.

For more information on the AT&T/Microsoft alliance:
- read this CXOtoday.com article