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.