Microsoft has offered a sneak peek at the beta code of its forthcoming real-time collaboration client, claiming that the offering will provide integrated communications capabilities including instant messaging, extensible presence, PC-based voice and video and telephony integration.

Anoop Gupta, corporate vice president of the Real-Time Collaboration business group at Microsoft, said that the client, codenamed Istanbul, is central to the software giant's next-generation integrated communications platform which will integrate with Office Live Communications Server and Microsoft Office Live Meeting.

"Customers depend on real-time communications to make more informed, timely decisions, and to stay better connected with their customers and grow their business," he said.

"With Istanbul, Live Communications Server and Live Meeting, we are providing pervasive real-time collaboration capabilities and empowering our customers to work together more effectively.

"Istanbul represents a milestone by integrating various modes of communications in one unified desktop experience."

As the "preferred client" for Microsoft Office Live Communications Server, Istanbul will feature presence and real-time collaboration data including out-of-office information.

The offering has been designed to help businesses consolidate applications into a single interface including instant messaging, conferencing and traditional telephony.

It will allow end users to initiate collaboration sessions directly from their existing desktop applications.

Microsoft said that the Istanbul beta program remains open for nominations. Those interested in participating should contact their Microsoft account manager or sales representative. The final code is due to ship in the first half of 2005.