|
20th April 2005 - Last Month Bill Gates defined Microsoft's
vision for real-time, integrated communications and
unveiled a roadmap for Live Communications Server (LCS)
2005 and its IM client Office Communicator 2005 (a.k.a
Istanbul). Today, Microsoft described another plank
for its ambitious real-time platform, announcing plans
to deliver a new client for Windows Mobile-based devices.
While details are still sketchy, Ed Simnett, group
product manager for LCS, said the mobile client will
provide a consistent IM and presence-enabled application
experience across PCs and handheld devices, and will
provide integration between mobile applications and
tools such as e-mail, phone, IM, SMS, video conferencing
and Web conferencing across a variety of devices and
wired or wireless networks. "This will allow enterprises
to deploy one infrastructure," Simnett said.
A beta version isn't expected until the second half
of this year. In terms of cost, Simnett said, "It's
too early to talk about pricing."
While the look and feel isn't finalized, it will be
based on Office Communicator with the goal of lessening
the learning curve for Live Communication Server 2005
users, according to David Sokolic, lead program manager
for LCS. "The key aim of the client is to give
end users the same real-time communication experience
when on a mobile device."
Of course, bringing a desktop application to mobile
devices calls for a balancing act. Do you look for consistency
with the user interface of the PC software or lean towards
appropriateness for devices with small form factors?
"The trick is finding the sweet spot and a UI that
makes people comfortable," Sokolic said.
To help find that balance, Simnett said that Microsoft
will be looking for feedback from beta users and said
that the company is "currently experimenting"
with the software.
Designing the right user interface for a mobile device
is no small task, according to Paul Ritter, research
director at Wainhouse Research. "Many wireless
devices are operated by the user with only one hand
for the majority of the time, and that presents unique
challenges in designing effective navigation that is
also easy and intuitive." He added that major differences
in screen sizes and viewing area between desktop and
wireless devices create challenges to designing a common
user interface. "The issue has by no means been
solved."
The new Windows Mobile client is just one example of
the type of application that can be developed for Live
Communications Server 2005 using soon-to-be-released
APIs and following standards-based protocol-level integration
via SIP, SIMPLE and CSTA (Computer Supported Telecommunications
Applications) over SIP, according to Microsoft. To foster
development, Microsoft said it is expanding its Technology
Adopter Program (TAP) for Live Communications Server
to include mobile developers.
Simnett said that the API for developers will ship
in the second half of this year. The API will be available
to both in-house developers and ISVs. Third-party applications
are likely to include mobile video conferencing and
push-to-talk products, Simnett said.
The first vendor to support the Microsoft's efforts
to bring LCS 2005 to mobile workers is Research In Motion
(RIM), who today announced an agreement to offer enterprise
IM and presence to BlackBerry subscribers through integration
between Microsoft Office Live Communications Server
2005 and BlackBerry Enterprise Server.
RIM reports that it is working to develop an LCS client
for BlackBerry that provides security-enhanced LCS IM
connectivity between mobile BlackBerry users and LCS
enterprise deployments. The company expects to make
the product available by the end of the year, with a
trial in September.
Ritter said the Microsoft-RIM agreement has more than
just PR value. Presence awareness, he said, is not only
about the availability of the user, but the greater
contextual picture of how, when and where they should
be contacted for different types of communications or
collaboration activities. "That's where I see an
important value of the Microsoft-RIM agreement in yielding
real-world business value."
While Microsoft clearly envisions real-time communications
eventually being pervasive among all users, early adopters,
Simnett said, include field service workers, delivery
people and salespeople. Wainhouse's Ritter agrees, "Certain
groups and departments within the larger enterprise
are ready for the technology now and are part of the
early adopters. The typical road warrior sales professional
is a key target for vendors of integrated communications
solutions, as are senior management of larger firms
that have to stay in frequent touch with the daily operations
of the company."
Creating an ubiquitous service that includes everything
from smart phones to network servers to PBXs is a massive
undertaking and perhaps one well-suited for a company
with the size and reach of Microsoft. "They have
done a pretty effective job at bringing together a veritable
hodge-podge of industry firms that haven't always played
nicely together," said Ritter. "It will be
interesting to watch to see how many of those partners
stay on, get acquired or wilt under the pressure of
being part of what could be the biggest game in town."
Three's
Special Online 3G Mobile Phone Packages
Back
to News Reports
|
