Bare-Bones Live Communications Server Ships

The first edition of Live Communications Server (LCS), Microsoft’s server product for corporate instant messaging, person-to-person conferencing, and extending user presence information to other applications, is now available. Known during its beta as Real-Time Communications Server (code-named Greenwich), LCS is being promoted by Microsoft for its corporate instant messaging (IM) capabilities. Although future versions will provide presence and call routing information to large federated Voice-over-IP (VoIP) and remote conferencing systems, the first release lacks some important features yet commands an unexpectedly high price.

What Is LCS?

LCS is a new Windows server application that performs certain key services for the Windows Messenger 5.0 client (see the illustration “Windows Messenger 5.0“) and other applications that use the Windows Real-Time Communications (RTC) Client APIs. These applications allow users to communicate and collaborate “live” with each other using IM, chat, VoIP, audio/video conferencing, or data conferencing sessions, plus receive notifications from server-based programs. Collaboration features in Office 2003 applications and the Windows SharePoint Services team site and portal product also use Messenger 5.0 and LCS to show the availability of others who have agreed to share “presence” information—for example, whether they’re in their office, away from their desk, or do not want to be disturbed.