What's the Prospect for Aspect?

Late this morning, Microsoft announced that it had entered into a multiyear agreement with Aspect Software, which provides solutions for contact centers.

During a noon teleconference, Jim Foy, Aspect's CEO, described the process with Microsoft as a "very collaborative exercise." He also praised Microsoft for providing Aspect with a three-year road map.

My question: Who's in charge here? Because Foy also acknowledged that Microsoft had made an "equity investment into Aspect Software."

Microsoft announced the Aspect agreement at VoiceCon in Orlando, Fla., as validation of the company's unified communications strategy. I don't see the validation if Microsoft is essentially paying Aspect to be a partner/customer.

Aspect plans to quickly march to its unified communications orders:

• A new .NET version of Aspect's Unified IP will ship this year.
• Aspect will integrate aspects of Office Live Communications Server 2007 into Unified IP.
• Aspect services will support Microsoft unified communications products.

There is something really important and revealing that Microsoft customers and partners should understand about the company's "Interoperability Principles." Foy spoke about how the Aspect-Microsoft product combination would "interface and interop more completely with the enterprise." He emphasized the importance of interoperability.

Microsoft's press release also touted interoperability, emphasizing that .NET-based Unified IP "delivers interoperability with Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007."

Since when did Microsoft's fledging unified communications products become the standard around which other IP-based products must interoperate? The point: When Microsoft talks interoperability, the company means on its terms.