Nortel, Microsoft pact takes aim at enterprise

摘要

Nortel Networks Inc. is touting its new, broad alliance with Microsoft Corp. as a multibillion-dol-lar integration opportunity. The focus is not on the public network, but on voice and data integration for the enterprise. The companies last week agreed on a wide-ranging four-year effort to cross-license patents and jointly develop software products. The joint development work will revolve around application-layer control, service-oriented architecture and Web services based on languages like XML, where the underlying operating system may be less relevant than in past architectures, said Ruchi Prasad, vice president of marketing for Nortel's enterprise services.