Microsoft Office Communicator 2005 has been released to manufacturing (RTM) and will soon be available to customers as a result. Bill Gates singled out Communicator as being fundamental to Microsoft's vision for integrated communications during his keynote at the RTC launch event on 8th March this year.
Supporting enhanced Instant Messaging (IM) and presence awareness, integrated telephony, VoIP and real-time elements of conferencing and unified communications, Communicator helps information workers easily and effectively communicate with colleagues, customers and partners in real time. By shipping the RTM of Communicator Microsoft is fulfilling the promise made to customers last March when they announced the product and confirmed availability by mid-year 2005.
In conjunction with the release to manufacturing of Communicator, Microsoft has published an interview with RTC Corporate Vice President Gurdeep Singh Pall. This gives more information about the product and how it can be used, the challenges Microsoft overcame to develop it and Microsoft's vision of the future of real-time collaboration.