Microsoft Takes Corporate IM Mobile

Microsoft on Tuesday rolled out a mobile version of Office Communicator, the company's instant messaging client designed for businesses that integrates with Live Communications Server. Communicator Mobile runs on Windows Mobile based devices, and sports a user interface similar to the desktop client.

Communicator serves as the preferred client for LCS 2005, which streamlines business communication and is the core of Microsoft's real-time collaboration vision. With Communicator, users have access to presence features that rout incoming messages based on a schedule, or offer additional availability data such as the next available meeting.

Plans to release a mobile version of Communicator for smartphones surfaced last April, when Microsoft promised a beta release before the end of 2005. The client offers secure instant messaging, presence sharing across all types of wireless networks and real-time access to business contacts.

Communicator Mobile also integrates support for voice over IP (VoIP), which will enable companies to save on calling rates.

"The new client is a key component of Microsoft's vision for unified communications, putting people at the center and enabling information workers to have access to real-time communications capabilities virtually anytime, anywhere, on any device," Microsoft corporate vice president Gurdeep Pall said in a statement.

The new mobile release will be made available via download to LCS customers within the next 60 days, Microsoft said. The company is also showcasing Communicator Mobile this week at the 3GSM conference in Barcelona, Spain.