Microsoft, Chungwa to Offer IPTV, VOIP in Taiwan, China

Microsoft Corp. has formed a joint venture with Taiwan's Chungwa Telecom Co. Ltd. to bring VOIP to small and midsize businesses in China and Taiwan, as well as to offer customers in those regions next-generation telecom services including IPTV.

Through the deal, which was reported by Reuters early Tuesday and confirmed by Microsoft through its public relations firm, the software vendor will help Chungwa develop and deploy VOIP (voice over Internet Protocol) services using Microsoft Live Communications Server for SMBs and enterprise customers.

In addition, the venture will enable Chungwa to offer a combination of Microsoft MSN VOIP with Chungwa's public switched telephone network, according to Microsoft. Chungwa also is building an IPTV service using Microsoft TV, the company's IPTV infrastructure, but the carrier does not have a target date for deployment yet.

Microsoft said Chungwa will deploy the new services developed through the deal using its next generation operation support system (NGOSS), which was built using Microsoft software.

Chungwa and Microsoft have joint projects dating back to 2001. The companies together have deployed a call-center management system and an operator-assisted Yellow Page system, Microsoft said.

Microsoft has been particularly focused in the last several years on expanding its business in Asia, especially in China. Last year, the company partnered with China Telecom to offer its search engine to the carrier's broadband customers. The company also is working with Lenovo Group Ltd. to build research and development centers across the country.