Microsoft Tests Advanced IM for Enterprises

Microsoft said the new client for its Live Communications Server (LCS), codenamed 'Istanbul,' represents its vision for next-generation collaboration and communication. Built around Microsoft's Office system, the new software will provide integrated communication that includes instant messaging (IM), extensible presence, PC voice and video, and telephony.

Microsoft said its Istanbul beta program is open for nominations through its account managers and sales representatives, and that release of the software is expected in the first half of 2005.

Unified Experience

Radicatti Group industry analyst Genelle Hung told TechNewsWorld that the announcement, which comes long before the release and wider use of the product, was somewhat late from Microsoft, which nonetheless appears to be on the right path with the strategy.

"It's a bit early to tell [how successful it will be]," Hung said. "It's not meant to come in and take over everything, but I think this is taking business communication to the next level."

Microsoft said Istanbul would enhance real-time collaboration by adding more data, such as out-of-office information. The company also said the new software would ease the use of integrated communications by consolidating applications into a single interface that brings together messaging, conferencing and traditional telephony.

"Istanbul represents a milestone by integrating various modes of communications in one unified desktop experience," Anoop Gupta, vice president of Microsoft's real-time collaboration (RTC) group, said in a statement.

Announcement of Power

Radicatti Group's Hung said the Istanbul technology, described for now as an announcement of an announcement, is meant to replace MSN chat and Windows Messenger.

Hung complained that Microsoft had not released very much information on the technology, which might not reach market until next year or even later. However, Hung did praise Microsoft for producing a compelling business communications solution.

"All of their ideas are really quite good," Hung said. "It's really tailored to the enterprise user."

Watching and Waiting

Hung also said Microsoft was bringing its integrated communication strategy to the game later than others, but added that the software giant appears to have benefited from staying on the sidelines.

"They haven't spent all that time waiting for nothing," she said. "Microsoft LCS is trying to gauge the response to [other efforts] and tailor that to the power user."

Hung, who called simplicity and ease of use the most important factors in Istanbul's success or failure, said the vision of truly integrated communication -- which would allow a mobile phone call from a laptop at a coffee shop, for example -- is coming into focus.

Standard Issue

Microsoft indicated that the new Istanbul software would be able to integrate with other Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and SIP for Instant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions (SIMPLE) platforms, including those from AOL and Yahoo (Nasdaq: YHOO) .

However, integration with the Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) -- popular among the open- source community -- will require additional gateway software, Microsoft said.

Hung said Microsoft has already signaled its support for SIP and SIMPLE, and he was not surprised by the company's standard support in Istanbul. However, Hung added that it is still too early to predict how the integrated communication standards will play out.