[October 19, 2004]

Microsoft�s Code Istanbul Goes Beta

BY JOHANNE TORRES

Microsoft just announced its live communication tool for Office will soon be available for beta testing. The new tool code-named Istanbul will bundle instant messaging (news - alert) with extensible presence, PC-based voice and video, and real telephony integration.

The software giant said that Istanbul would complete the company�s collaboration product offering, which includes the Microsoft Office Live Communications Server and Microsoft Office Live Meeting.

"Customers depend on real-time communications to make more informed, timely decisions, and to stay better connected with their customers and grow their business," said Anoop Gupta, the company�s corporate vice president for the Real-Time Collaboration (RTC) Business Group. "With 'Istanbul,' Live Communications Server and Live Meeting, we are providing pervasive real-time collaboration capabilities and empowering our customers to work together more effectively.�Istanbul� represents a milestone by integrating various modes of communications in one unified desktop experience,� Gupta said.

According to Microsoft, code Istanbul will provide corporate users with:

+ Enhanced presence and real-time collaboration: presence becomes richer as additional availability data, including out-of-office information, is included. In addition, users are able to control their communications based on their presence.

+ Improved usability: helping business users to take advantage of advanced communications capabilities more easily by consolidating applications into a single interface including instant messaging, conferencing and traditional telephony.

+ Compatibility and membership of the Microsoft Office System: Istanbul includes integration with Microsoft Office Live Meeting. End users will be able to initiate collaboration directly from their already familiar desktop applications.

The code Istanbul beta program is currently accepting nominations from companies interested in participating. The new tool would be ready for deployment in the first half of next year.