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Microsoft Corp.s Web conferencing service now supports a competitor to the companys Outlook e-mail client.
The Redmond, Wash., software maker on Friday made available a free download for its Office Live Meeting 2003 online meeting service that connects it with IBMs Lotus Notes. Once installed, the add-in allows users to schedule Live Meeting conferences and launch into the meetings directly through the Notes client, officials said.
The Lotus Notes add-in is the latest in a series of plug-ins Microsoft offers for Office Live Meeting 2003. Others include a download to connect Web conferencing with Outlook and add-ins for launching online meetings from Windows Messenger and MSN Messenger.
Among its other features, the Lotus Notes plug-in provides authentication of users into the Live Meeting service without requiring a separate log-in and provides information on online-meeting seat availability.
Microsoft entered the Web conferencing service space last year after it acquired PlaceWare Inc., and it competes with companies such as WebEx Communications Inc.
In September, Microsoft revamped the service with the introduction of Office Live Meeting 2003 and is planning in 2005 to offer a server-software version of Live Meeting.