From the press release Microsoft and MCI Join to Deliver Consumer PC-to-Phone Calling we learn

REDMOND, Wash., and ASHBURN, Va. — Dec. 12, 2005 — Microsoft Corp. and MCI Inc. (NASDAQ: MCIP) today announced a global, multiyear partnership to provide software and services that enable customers to place calls from a personal computer to virtually any phone. The solution, MCI Web Calling for Windows Live™ Call, will be available through Windows Live Messenger, the upcoming successor to MSN® Messenger, which has more than 185 million active accounts around the world. The solution combines Windows Live software, advanced voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) capabilities and the strengths of MCI’s expansive global network to give consumers an easy-to-use, convenient and cost-effective way to stay connected.

MCI and Microsoft are testing the service as part of a Windows Live Messenger limited beta with subscriptions initially available in the United States, and expect to jointly deliver the PC-to-phone calling capabilities to France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom in the coming weeks. Once subscribed to the service, customers can place calls to and from more than 220 countries with rates starting at $.023 per minute to the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Western Europe during the beta testing period. Upon sign-up, MCI Web Calling customers will receive up to one hour of free calls. Final pricing will be determined when the product officially launches in 2006.

Another sweet Windows Live offering already in beta. You can find a screenshot of the upcoming functionality in the blog post Windows Live Call & MCI (Part II). I'll definitely be interested in trying out this feature once it ships. I used to PC-to-SMS feature all the time to send text messages to my girlfriend especially when I'm out of town. Extending this to phone calls would be great for calling family overseas.


 

Categories: Windows Live
Tracked by:
"McDonalds and Windows Live Messaging?" (XSLT:Blog[@author = 'M. David Peterson'... [Trackback]
"McDonalds and Windows Live Messaging?" (XSLT:Blog[@author = 'M. David Peterson'... [Trackback]
"albergo bournemouth" (albergo bournemouth) [Trackback]
"jhonny depp" (jhonny depp) [Trackback]
"mediale affari" (mediale affari) [Trackback]
"midi colonna sonore" (midi colonna sonore) [Trackback]
"Steve Brock Ministries" (Steve Brock Ministries) [Trackback]
"MUSIC - Bethlehem Morning" (MUSIC - Bethlehem Morning) [Trackback]
"londra big ben" (londra big ben) [Trackback]
"MUSIC - Gloria" (MUSIC - Gloria) [Trackback]
"calendario 2003" (calendario 2003) [Trackback]
"PRODUCTS" (PRODUCTS) [Trackback]
"memory card" (memory card) [Trackback]
"new york four seasons hotel" (new york four seasons hotel) [Trackback]
"gioco scaricare gratis pc" (gioco scaricare gratis pc) [Trackback]
"immagini disney" (immagini disney) [Trackback]
"amministratore condominiale" (amministratore condominiale) [Trackback]
"freddissimo gradito papa" (freddissimo gradito papa) [Trackback]
"val d aosta" (val d aosta) [Trackback]
"Steve Brock Ministries" (Steve Brock Ministries) [Trackback]
"Steve Brock Ministries" (Steve Brock Ministries) [Trackback]
"MUSIC - Mary Did You Know/What Child Is This?" (MUSIC - Mary Did You Know/What ... [Trackback]
"vacanza ad ischia" (vacanza ad ischia) [Trackback]
"Steve Brock Ministries" (Steve Brock Ministries) [Trackback]
"gioco adulto gratis" (gioco adulto gratis) [Trackback]
"l attimo fuggente" (l attimo fuggente) [Trackback]
"bionde masturbandosi" (bionde masturbandosi) [Trackback]
"HOME" (HOME) [Trackback]
"PHOTOS" (PHOTOS) [Trackback]
"MUSIC" (MUSIC) [Trackback]
"SCHEDULE" (SCHEDULE) [Trackback]
"giochi carta regolamento" (giochi carta regolamento) [Trackback]
"scuola superiore" (scuola superiore) [Trackback]
"Steve Brock Ministries" (Steve Brock Ministries) [Trackback]
"perline gioiello" (perline gioiello) [Trackback]
"PARTNERS" (PARTNERS) [Trackback]
"CONTACT" (CONTACT) [Trackback]
"OUTREACH" (OUTREACH) [Trackback]
"pulcino fottilo nella residenza" (pulcino fottilo nella residenza) [Trackback]
"torte bindi" (torte bindi) [Trackback]
"albergo firenze hotel" (albergo firenze hotel) [Trackback]
"medio apparecchio" (medio apparecchio) [Trackback]

Monday, 26 December 2005 05:36:49 (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Thanks for the kind words for Windows Live Call. I am a test lead on this feature, and we are very proud of it. The Windows Live Messenger team and the engineers from MCI put a lot of hard work and dedication into this Beta release. Please try out the feature and let the Messenger team know what you think of it!
Comments are closed.