The goal of the alliance is to make integrated hardware and software solutions that join together voice, video, and data communications without requiring gateways or middleware.
[2] Microsoft and Nortel share developing technologies and patents for unified communications products.
[3] Nortel and Microsoft agreed to share patents, technology, marketing, and development for unified communications products.
The alliance competes with other competitors in instant messaging such as Google Talk, Office SIP Messenger, Miranda NG, and AIM.
Many of these other products offer instant messaging, Voice over IP (VOIP), and file transfers at little or no cost.