Cisco, Microsoft: Meeting March 7?

Next week’s VoiceCon conference in Orlando will be “the biggest conference of the year” for Cisco Systems’ unified communications strategy, according to tipster who chatted with The VAR Guy. The event could include a meeting of the minds between Cisco and Microsoft.

Joint VoIP customers like Boeing are “demanding” that Cisco and Microsoft work more closely together on convergence, The VAR Guy hears. The software and networking giants already partner on security. But Microsoft’s unified communications strategy is more closely linked to Nortel. Not that Microsoft is playing favorites. Apparently, the software giant approached Avaya before giving Nortel a call.

Now, there’s a “higher than average chance” that Microsoft will connect with Cisco at VoiceCon, The VAR Guy hears. In fact, executives from both companies are scheduled to speak back-to-back on March 7.

Cisco also has Apple on its mind. One tipster says Cisco is preparing to extend its unified communications strategy to blanket all major cell phones and smart phones—including Apple’s iPhone. If Apple doesn’t open up the iPhone to support Cisco’s IP telephony software, the networking giant plans to support iPhone customers through the Web browser, The VAR Guy hears.