Web-Access Version of Microsofts Business IM Client Goes Gold

New York—Microsoft Corp. kicked off the Interop New York 2005 show with the release to manufacturing of the Web-based version of its Office Communicator 2005 enterprise instant messaging client.

Microsoft launched its enterprise IM client the same day that it unveiled its beta-test plans for Windows Live Messenger, aka MSN Messenger 8.0.

Microsoft announced a deal with MCI Inc. to provide PC-to-phone-based calling as part of the forthcoming Windows Live Messenger consumer IM client release.

Microsoft Office Communicator 2005 integrates IM, voice, video, telephony and Web conferencing and is Microsofts preferred client for its LCS (Live Communications Server) enterprise IM server.

The Web-based version, Office Communicator Web Access, is an AJAX-based client that allows users of Microsoft Office LCS to access their corporate IM and presence capabilities from a Web browser.

When used with Microsofts LCS 2005 Public IM Connectivity tools, it also enables connectivity to the MSN, AOL and Yahoo public IM services, Microsoft officials said in a statement.

There are no server components for users to install, as they were deployed as a part of Live Communications Server 2005 SP1 deployment. Communicator Web Access works only requires a network connection, working with IE6, Firefox, Netscape 7.2, and Apples Safari.

Microsoft first discussed this Web-based version of its enterprise messaging client in March, rechristening code name “Istanbul” as Office Communicator 2005.

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Microsoft announced a first private beta in June, releasing it in July. A second private beta was released in October, at which time Microsoft promised the final version in the first half of 2006.

The October beta extended the instant message and presence awareness of its LCS to smart phones and PDAs based on the Windows Mobile operating system.

Communicator Web Access is available as a free download for licensed LCS 2005 users.

Editors Note: This story was updated to include details of the products RTM.

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