Uniden America Corporation, a leading manufacturer of wireless consumer electronics, and Microsoft Corp. today announced an alliance in North America to deliver a digital cordless phone that serves as a traditional landline phone and takes calling to the next level by also enabling customers to make and receive Internet calls via the upcoming Windows Live™ Messenger phone. The WIN 1200, a 5.8GHz digital cordless phone, integrates Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony with a landline, enabling consumers to experience next-generation technology throughout the home while providing an easy-to-use and convenient way to stay connected. With the WIN 1200, customers will have three calling choices with the solution: free PC-to-PC calling through Windows Live Messenger allowing users to place and receive voice calls*; MCI Web Calling offering Windows Live Messenger users a low-cost PC-to-phone outbound calling option; and traditional landline phone service.**

As a hardware extension to the Windows Live Messenger service, the WIN 1200 displays the Messenger contact list allowing customers to see their friends' online status and Messenger icon when logged into the service from virtually anywhere in the house and place calls to those contacts. This ability to notify a Windows Live Messenger user when another user is connected to the network and capable of receiving communication through the Messenger interface is known as presence technology. The WIN 1200 now extends the reach of presence technology by delivering notification options on the cordless handset, which can be used throughout the home or office, and eliminates the need for consumers to remain attached to their computer for communication.