Microsoft has announced the opening of the Private Beta program for Microsoft Office Communicator Web Access (aka Budapest). Microsoft Office Communicator Web Access is the web client for Live Communications Server 2005, which MS expect to be available in the second half of CY 2005. It is currently in development, with a Beta release expected within the next 30 days.
Communicator Web Access is intended to enable customers to deploy presence and IM capabilities in scenarios where they may currently be blocked. The Beta will assist us in validating certain aspects of the product"s design. These aspects include the deployment topologies, acceptable support for cross platform browsers and acceptable UI implementation and management functionality. Communicator Web Access will be based on the look and feel of the Microsoft Office Communicator 2005 client and will have a subset of its functionality (the focus being on IM & presence), with support for a broad range of browsers.