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    <p>"Telecom" is a priority. That means they want to get the same
      partners as RingCentral to sell more Teams as softphone; use more
      vSBC; get more Azure usage.  It has nothing to do with
      interconnection, TDM, residential or every telecom operator - just
      about getting more enterprises on Teams</p>
    <p>Let me know if there is anything I can do for you.  Thank you.<br>
      <br>
      Regards,<br>
      <br>
      Peter Radizeski <br>
      RAD-INFO INC<br>
      Telecom Consultant<br>
      Bandwidth * Voice * Cloud * Data Center * Internet * CyberSecurity<br>
      (813) 963-5884<br>
      <br>
      <br>
      <br>
    </p>
    <div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 8/13/2024 3:40 PM, Jeff Brower via
      VoiceOps wrote:<br>
    </div>
    <blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:20240813194027.Horde.m0P3aq1Q8LfyZOxlSlPKGGw@webmail.signalogic.com">
      <title></title>
      <p>"The telecommunications industry remains a priority industry
        for Microsoft"<br>
        <br>
        that is questionable. Like other areas getting run over by AI,
        priorities are shifting. Maybe they expect that if their AI gets
        smart enough, it can solve telecom use cases anyway :-)<br>
        <br>
        Quoting Jawaid Bazyar via VoiceOps <<a
          href="mailto:voiceops@voiceops.org" moz-do-not-send="true"
          class="moz-txt-link-freetext">voiceops@voiceops.org</a>>:</p>
      <blockquote type="cite">
        <div dir="ltr">
          <p class="MsoNormal">"Azure for Operators" is what Microsoft
            was calling the Metaswitch products.</p>
          <p class="MsoNormal">This went out a couple months ago:</p>
          <p class="MsoNormal">---</p>
          <p class="MsoNormal">We are reaching out to customers of our
            Azure for Operators portfolio, which includes products we
            acquired from Affirmed Networks and <span class="gmail-il">Metaswitch</span> Networks,
            to explain recent updates to our portfolio.</p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u>In 2020, we announced our Azure for
                Operators initiative.  As part of this effort, we
                acquired Affirmed Networks, <span class="gmail-il">Metaswitch</span> Networks,
                and IP from AT&T to acquire “Telco DNA” that would
                enhance our operational / technical engineering skills
                for building a carrier grade platform.  As these
                acquisitions came together with Azure, we created Azure
                Operator Nexus – a carrier grade, hybrid cloud
                platform.  We are moving Azure Operator Nexus into our
                broader Azure Edge and Platform portfolio and continue
                to service operators.</u></u></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u>Based on customer demand, the
                  Azure for Operators initiative also focused on
                  automation and analytics capabilities as early
                  products.  Given the acceleration of <span
                    class="gmail-il">Microsoft</span>’s AI capabilities
                  overall, we are now aligning these early efforts with <span
                    class="gmail-il">Microsoft</span>’s broader
                  portfolio.</u></u></u></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u>As we advance our platform and
                  AI capabilities, we are shifting our focus from the
                  Network Function layer to partnerships with industry
                  leaders of these capabilities. We will fulfill all our
                  contractual obligations to existing customers and we
                  will be consistent with published end-of-life
                  policies.  We will not expand our customer base for <span
                    class="gmail-il">Microsoft</span>’s Network
                  Functions, including the former <span class="gmail-il">Metaswitch</span> and
                  Affirmed Networks software products.</u></u></u></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><span>The telecommunications
                  industry </span>remains a priority industry for <span
                  class="gmail-il">Microsoft</span>.  We will continue
                to empower telecommunications organizations to achieve
                more through a trusted and secure platform built to
                elevate customer experiences, streamline enterprise
                operations and business support systems, accelerate
                network transformation, reinvent product innovation and
                monetization, and build a secure data-driven business.</u></u></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u>We appreciate the importance our
                  products provide in supporting your network.  We also
                  appreciate the long-term planning that network
                  development requires, so we will communicate our
                  roadmap plans at the earliest opportunity.  It is
                  important to note that these changes do not require
                  immediate action from you today, nor do they change
                  any agreement that you have in place with <span
                    class="gmail-il">Microsoft</span>.  We will continue
                  to meet all customer contractual commitments.</u></u></u></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u>If you have any questions,
                  please contact: AFO Sales Questions <a
                    href="mailto:afosalesqst@microsoft.com"
                    target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true">afosalesqst@<span
                      class="gmail-il">microsoft</span>.com</a>.</u></u></u></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u>Thank you.</u></u></u></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><b><u> </u></b></u></u></u></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><b>FAQ</b></u></u></u></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><b>Q:  Is there any action I
                    need to take today?  When will you have more details
                    to share about retirement dates (Azure services) or
                    End of Life dates (<span class="gmail-il">Metaswitch</span> Networks
                    & Affirmed Networks products)?</b></u></u></u></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u>A:  We will continue to meet all
                  customer contractual commitments and be consistent
                  with published end-of-life policies.  We also
                  appreciate the long-term planning that network
                  development requires, so we will communicate our
                  roadmap plans at the earliest opportunity.</u></u></u></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><b><u> </u></b></u></u></u></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><b>Q:  Will you still support
                    our cloud and AI transformation?</b></u></u></u></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u>A:  Yes, <span class="gmail-il">Microsoft</span> is
                  refining the offers we provide to operators to reflect
                  the strong demand for cloud and AI based solutions.</u></u></u></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u> </u></u></u></u></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><b>Q:  If you are announcing an
                    End of Sale for the Affirmed Network and <span
                      class="gmail-il">Metaswitch</span> Network
                    products for new customers and net new deployments,
                    what does this mean for my existing service?</b></u></u></u></p>
          <ul type="disc">
            <li class="m_-4375673170095776189MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst"><u><u><u>We
                    will meet all existing customer contractual
                    obligations.</u></u></u></li>
            <li class="m_-4375673170095776189MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><u><u><u>We
                    will continue to maintain the software to provide
                    security patches and bug fixes.  We highly recommend
                    that customers follow standard security practices
                    and upgrade to the latest releases.</u></u></u></li>
            <li class="m_-4375673170095776189MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><u><u><u>We
                    will provide support consistent with existing
                    contracts.</u></u></u></li>
            <li class="m_-4375673170095776189MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><u><u><u>We
                    will continue to offer project level support /
                    maintenance services on a case-by-case basis (as we
                    do today).</u></u></u></li>
            <li class="m_-4375673170095776189MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><u><u><u>We
                    will support the expansion of volumes of current
                    deployments.</u></u></u></li>
            <li class="m_-4375673170095776189MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><u><u><u>We
                    will not expand the customer base / add new
                    customers.</u></u></u></li>
            <li class="m_-4375673170095776189MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><u><u><u>We
                    will not expand to entirely new deployments for
                    existing customers (e.g., launching for a new OpCo
                    or OpCo not currently deployed) where the new
                    deployment is not already contractually committed.</u></u></u></li>
            <li class="m_-4375673170095776189MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><u><u><u>We
                    will not expand or offer new feature sets beyond
                    those that have already been committed.</u></u></u></li>
          </ul>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u> </u></u></u></u></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><b>Q:  What Are you announcing
                    for the Azure for Operators products?</b></u></u></u></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u>A:   Here is a summary of these
                  changes:</u></u></u></p>
          <ul type="disc">
            <li class="m_-4375673170095776189MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst"><u><u><u>We
                    promoted Azure Operator Nexus to Azure’s Edge and
                    Platform portfolio and will continue to sell it.</u></u></u></li>
            <li class="m_-4375673170095776189MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><u><u><u>We
                    will continue to support Azure Programmable
                    Connectivity.</u></u></u></li>
            <li class="m_-4375673170095776189MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><u><u><u>We
                    will support existing customers of Azure Operator
                    Insights / AIOps Copilot, but we will not accept new
                    customers.  <span class="gmail-il">Microsoft</span> Fabric
                    will address this functionality.</u></u></u></li>
            <li class="m_-4375673170095776189MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><u><u><u>We
                    will no longer add new customers for: Azure
                    Communication Gateway (ACG), Azure Operator Insights
                    (AOI), Azure Private 5G Core (AP5GC), Affirmed
                    Mobile Content Cloud (MCC), Affirmed UnityCloud
                    (UC), <span class="gmail-il">Metaswitch</span> Rhino
                    TAS, and <span class="gmail-il">Metaswitch</span> Perimeta
                    SBC.  If you have a customer who is in the process
                    of onboarding, please contact the appropriate
                    In-flight Projects contact: <a
                      href="mailto:sallywathen@microsoft.com"
                      target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true">sallywathen@<span
                        class="gmail-il">microsoft</span>.com</a> (APAC
                    and EMEA) or <a
                      href="mailto:seanjames@microsoft.com"
                      target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true">seanjames@<span
                        class="gmail-il">microsoft</span>.com</a> (Americas).</u></u></u></li>
            <li class="m_-4375673170095776189MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><u><u><u>We
                    will not accept more preview candidates for: Azure
                    Operator Call Protection (AOCP) and Azure Operator
                    5G Core (AO5GC), and we will not move these services
                    to General Availability.</u></u></u></li>
          </ul>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><b><u> </u></b></u></u></u></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><b>Q:  What is next after you
                    stop selling a product, and how will you manage
                    these products?</b></u></u></u></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u>A:  We will continue to support
                  these products in accordance with our existing
                  customer commitments.  We will eventually retire these
                  services in accordance with our lifecycle policies. 
                  In advance of retirement, we will provide notification
                  as well as details on transition recommendations.  <span
                    class="m_-4375673170095776189ui-provider">We are
                    committed to supporting you through this transition.</span></u></u></u></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u> </u></u></u></u></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u>Here are the current plans for
                  each product, but plans may evolve as we work with
                  customers:</u></u></u></p>
          <ul type="disc">
            <li class="m_-4375673170095776189MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst"><u><u><u><b>Azure
                      Communication Gateway (ACG) </b>– We will publish
                    a transition roadmap to recommend options to migrate
                    off these services to partner solutions when the
                    service is retired.</u></u></u></li>
            <li class="m_-4375673170095776189MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><u><u><u><b>Azure
                      Operator Insights (AOI) </b>– We will work with
                    customers to align this service to <span
                      class="gmail-il">Microsoft</span> Fabric before
                    the service is retired.</u></u></u></li>
            <li class="m_-4375673170095776189MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><u><u><u><b>Azure
                      Operator 5G Core (AO5GC) </b> – We will not move
                    this product from Public Preview to GA</u></u></u></li>
            <li class="m_-4375673170095776189MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><u><u><u><b>Azure
                      Private 5G Core (AP5GC)</b> – We will provide
                    options to adopt services using partner solutions
                    before the service is retired.</u></u></u></li>
            <li class="m_-4375673170095776189MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><u><u><u><b>Azure
                      Operator Call Protection (AOCP)</b> – We will not
                    move this product from Private Preview to GA. 
                    Operators may still use existing <span
                      class="gmail-il">Microsoft</span> tooling and
                    partner solutions to create a similar solution.</u></u></u></li>
            <li class="m_-4375673170095776189MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><u><u><u><b>Affirmed
                      Mobile Content Cloud (MCC)</b> – We will meet
                    obligations as defined above until product End of
                    Life.</u></u></u></li>
            <li class="m_-4375673170095776189MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><u><u><u><b>Affirmed
                      UnityCloud (UC)</b> – We will meet obligations as
                    defined above and move to product End of Life.</u></u></u></li>
            <li class="m_-4375673170095776189MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><u><u><u><b><span
                        class="gmail-il">Metaswitch</span> Rhino TAS</b> –
                    We will meet obligations as defined above until
                    product End of Life.</u></u></u></li>
            <li class="m_-4375673170095776189MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><u><u><u><b><span
                        class="gmail-il">Metaswitch</span> Perimeta SBC</b> –
                    We will meet obligations as defined above until
                    product End of Life.</u></u></u></li>
          </ul>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><u> </u></u></u></u></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><b>Q:  Is <span class="gmail-il">Microsoft</span> exiting
                    the telecommunications industry?</b></u></u></u></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u>A:  No.  <span class="gmail-il">Microsoft</span> remains
                  fully committed to supporting the telecommunications
                  industry by empowering them to achieve more with the
                  power of Cloud and AI.  The changes to the Azure for
                  Operator portfolio reflect customer demand and enable
                  us to focus on the technologies that drive the most
                  value for our customers and partners.</u></u></u></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><b><u> </u></b></u></u></u></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><b>Q:  If these changes impacted
                    my contacts at <span class="gmail-il">Microsoft</span>,
                    who can I contact?</b></u></u></u></p>
          <p class="m_-4375673170095776189paragraph"><u><u><u><span>A: 
                    W<span class="m_-4375673170095776189normaltextrun">e
                      apologize for any inconvenience personnel changes
                      have caused you.  Please reach out to your
                      assigned <span class="gmail-il">Microsoft</span> Account
                      Executive.  For issues requiring escalation, you
                      may contact the following:</span><span
                      class="m_-4375673170095776189eop"> </span></span></u></u></u></p>
          <p class="m_-4375673170095776189paragraph"><u><u><u><span
                    class="m_-4375673170095776189normaltextrun"><span> </span></span></u></u></u></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><span
                    class="m_-4375673170095776189eop">Questions /
                    inquiries:</span><span
                    class="m_-4375673170095776189MsoHyperlink">                                         
                                  <a
                      href="mailto:afosalesqst@microsoft.com"
                      target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true">afosalesqst@<span
                        class="gmail-il">microsoft</span>.com</a></span></u></u></u></p>
          <p class="m_-4375673170095776189paragraph"><u><u><u><span
                    class="m_-4375673170095776189eop"><span>Industry
                      Lead Sponsor:                            
                                    </span></span><a
                    href="mailto:silvia.candiani@microsoft.com"
                    target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"><span>silvia.candiani@<span
                        class="gmail-il">microsoft</span>.com</span></a></u></u></u></p>
          <p class="m_-4375673170095776189paragraph"><u><u><u><span
                    class="m_-4375673170095776189normaltextrun"><span>Support
                      Issues:                    </span></span><span>                       
                                  </span><a
                    href="mailto:mhenderson@microsoft.com"
                    target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"><span>mhenderson@<span
                        class="gmail-il">microsoft</span>.com</span></a><span
                    class="m_-4375673170095776189eop"><span> </span></span></u></u></u></p>
          <p class="m_-4375673170095776189paragraph"><u><u><u><span
                    class="m_-4375673170095776189normaltextrun"><span>In-flight
                      Projects (APAC and EMEA)                     </span></span><a
                    href="mailto:sallywathen@microsoft.com"
                    target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"><span>sallywathen@<span
                        class="gmail-il">microsoft</span>.com</span></a></u></u></u></p>
          <p class="m_-4375673170095776189paragraph"><u><u><u><span
                    class="m_-4375673170095776189normaltextrun"><span>In-flight
                      Projects (Americas):        </span></span><span>          
                                  </span><a
                    href="mailto:seanjames@microsoft.com"
                    target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"><span>seanjames@<span
                        class="gmail-il">microsoft</span>.com</span></a></u></u></u></p>
          <p class="m_-4375673170095776189paragraph"><u><u><u><span
                    class="m_-4375673170095776189normaltextrun"><span>Purchase
                      Orders:  <span>            
                                                               </span></span></span><a
                    href="mailto:jason.ryberg@microsoft.com"
                    target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"><span>jason.ryberg@<span
                        class="gmail-il">microsoft</span>.com</span></a><span
                    class="m_-4375673170095776189eop"><span> </span></span></u></u></u></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><span
                    class="m_-4375673170095776189normaltextrun">Executive
                    Escalation:                           
                                  </span><a
                    href="mailto:shawn.hakl@microsoft.com"
                    target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true">shawn.hakl@<span
                      class="gmail-il">microsoft</span>.com</a></u></u></u></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><u><u><u><span><u> </u></span></u></u></u></p>
        </div>
        <br>
        <div class="gmail_quote">
          <div class="gmail_attr" dir="ltr"><u><u><u>On Tue, Aug 13,
                  2024 at 8:41 AM Mike Hammett <<a
                    href="mailto:voiceops@ics-il.net"
                    moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">voiceops@ics-il.net</a>>
                  wrote:</u></u></u></div>
          <blockquote class="gmail_quote">
            <div class="msg328750724890767665">
              <div>
                <div><u><u><u>"Given the MetaSwitch products are no
                        longer sold, and Microsoft is EOLing them, and
                        not taking new support contracts..."</u></u></u>
                  <div> </div>
                  <div> </div>
                  <div><u><u><u>That's news to me.</u></u></u><br>
                    <br>
                    <div><br>
                      <br>
                      <u><u><u><span name="x">-----<br>
                              Mike Hammett<br>
                              Intelligent Computing Solutions<br>
                              <a href="http://www.ics-il.com"
                                target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"
                                class="moz-txt-link-freetext">http://www.ics-il.com</a><br>
                              <br>
                              <br>
                              <br>
                              Midwest Internet Exchange<br>
                              <a href="http://www.midwest-ix.com"
                                target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"
                                class="moz-txt-link-freetext">http://www.midwest-ix.com</a></span></u></u></u><br>
                      <br>
                       </div>
                    <br>
                    <hr id="m_328750724890767665zwchr">
                    <div><u><u><u><b>From:</b> "Jawaid Bazyar via
                            VoiceOps" <<a
                              href="mailto:voiceops@voiceops.org"
                              target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"
                              class="moz-txt-link-freetext">voiceops@voiceops.org</a>><br>
                            <b>To:</b> "voiceops" <<a
                              href="mailto:voiceops@voiceops.org"
                              target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"
                              class="moz-txt-link-freetext">voiceops@voiceops.org</a>><br>
                            <b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, August 13, 2024
                            7:23:05 AM<br>
                            <b>Subject:</b> [VoiceOps] Acquire
                            MetaSwitch</u></u></u><br>
                      <br>
                      <div dir="ltr"><u><u><u>Hello,</u></u></u>
                        <div> </div>
                        <div><u><u><u>We are in the market to acquire /
                                take over a MetaSwitch CFS. In
                                particular, we're looking for the
                                virtual edition that runs purely in
                                VMWare.</u></u></u></div>
                        <div> </div>
                        <div><u><u><u>The components we'd need are:</u></u></u></div>
                        <div><u><u><u>    CFS</u></u></u></div>
                        <div><u><u><u>    MRS (Media Resource Server)</u></u></u></div>
                        <div><u><u><u>    Perimeta</u></u></u></div>
                        <div><u><u><u>    SAS (Service Assurance Server)</u></u></u></div>
                        <div><u><u><u>    MetaView Server</u></u></u></div>
                        <div> </div>
                        <div><u><u><u>These are fairly common
                                components.</u></u></u></div>
                        <div> </div>
                        <div><u><u><u>Given the MetaSwitch products are
                                no longer sold, and Microsoft is EOLing
                                them, and not taking new support
                                contracts, we're not talking about a big
                                cash up front kind of deal, but, instead
                                a revenue share kind of arrangement.</u></u></u></div>
                        <div> </div>
                        <div><u><u><u>Anyone that has one and is
                                interested, contact me directly
                                off-list.</u></u></u></div>
                        <div> </div>
                        <div><u><u><u>Cheers,</u></u></u></div>
                        <div> </div>
                        <div><u><u><u>Jawaid</u></u></u></div>
                        <div> </div>
                      </div>
                      <br>
                      <u><u><u>_______________________________________________<br>
                            VoiceOps mailing list<br>
                            <a href="mailto:VoiceOps@voiceops.org"
                              target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"
                              class="moz-txt-link-freetext">VoiceOps@voiceops.org</a><br>
                            <a
href="https://puck.nether.net/mailman/listinfo/voiceops" target="_blank"
                              moz-do-not-send="true"
                              class="moz-txt-link-freetext">https://puck.nether.net/mailman/listinfo/voiceops</a></u></u></u></div>
                  </div>
                </div>
              </div>
            </div>
          </blockquote>
        </div>
      </blockquote>
      <p><br>
        <br>
        <br type="_moz">
      </p>
      <br>
      <fieldset class="moz-mime-attachment-header"></fieldset>
      <pre class="moz-quote-pre" wrap="">_______________________________________________
VoiceOps mailing list
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:VoiceOps@voiceops.org">VoiceOps@voiceops.org</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://puck.nether.net/mailman/listinfo/voiceops">https://puck.nether.net/mailman/listinfo/voiceops</a>
</pre>
    </blockquote>
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