Real-Time Collaboration Client Will Strengthen Connection Between Customers
and Their Telephony, Line-of-Business and Productivity Applications; Beta
Program Open for Nominations
BOSTON and REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today in his
keynote address at the Fall 2004 VON Conference & Expo, Anoop Gupta, corporate
vice president of the Real-Time Collaboration (RTC) Business Group at
Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT), outlined Microsoft's real-time collaboration
vision and strategy for integrated communications, and announced plans for a
next-generation client. Building on the recent success and rapid adoption of
Microsoft(R) Office Live Communications Server and Microsoft Office Live
Meeting, Gupta introduced the newest member of the Microsoft Office System,
code-named "Istanbul," that will provide integrated communications
capabilities including instant messaging, extensible presence, PC-based voice
and video, and telephony integration.
(Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO )
"Customers depend on real-time communications to make more informed,
timely decisions, and to stay better connected with their customers and grow
their business," Gupta said. "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."
As the preferred client for Microsoft Office Live Communications Server,
"Istanbul" will enhance the business user experience:
-- Enhancing presence and real-time collaboration. With "Istanbul,"
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.
-- Improving usability. "Istanbul" will help business users take advantage
of advanced communications capabilities more easily by consolidating
applications into a single interface including instant messaging,
conferencing and traditional telephony.
-- Member of the Microsoft Office System. With "Istanbul" and Live
Communications Server, presence and communications capabilities become
a richer part of the Microsoft Office experience, including integration
with Microsoft Office Live Meeting. End users will be able to initiate
collaboration directly from their already familiar desktop
applications.
The "Istanbul" client fits into the overall Microsoft vision for real-time
collaboration by helping business users communicate more effectively through
providing pervasive, integrated communications capabilities. Bringing together
these capabilities and making them all accessible in Office and
line-of-business applications will provide a greater degree of efficiency in
quickly finding, connecting, communicating and collaborating in real time with
colleagues, partners and customers regardless of application or location.
Availability
The "Istanbul" beta program is open for nominations. Those interested in
participating should contact their Microsoft account manager or sales
representative for instructions on how to nominate their organization.
"Istanbul" is scheduled for release in the first half of 2005.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services
and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
NOTE: Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the
United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the
trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.
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Related links:
http://www.microsoft.com
Photo Notes:
NewsCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
CONTACT:
Jevon Fark, +1-425-638-7000, or
jevonf@wagged.com, or Rapid Response Team, +1-503-443-7070, or
rrt@wagged.com, both of Waggener Edstrom, for Microsoft Corp.
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