14 DAY TRIAL // With Microsoft Communicator 2010 Attendee, the Redmond company is making available a tool designed to allow customers to join Communications Server hosted meetings. The meeting application is available as a free download from the software giant, an understandable move considering that the latest release is nothing more than a development milestone made available for testing purposes. The Microsoft Communicator 2010 Attendee available through the Microsoft Download Center is a Beta Refresh development milestone, and not the final version of the tool, which means it’s designed for testing, and not for deployment into production environments.
“This application allows users to join Communications Server hosted meetings they are invited to by providing a display name. The application allows the user to wait in lobby if required by the meeting organizer and get admitted only once the organizer approves,” Microsoft revealed. “This application joins the meeting as anonymous and does not let the user provide any credentials. Hence if the user installs this applications they join all Communications Server hosted meetings as anonymous user.”
Despite the anonymous status, Microsoft Communicator 2010 Attendee still allows users to take advantage of the full range of communication modalities supported by Communications Server. According to the software giant, customers are able to use instant messaging, but also send audio and video messages.
“This application provides different communication capabilities while in the meeting,” Microsoft explained. “This application also provides a set of tools for collaboration during the meeting. Examples of such tools are application sharing, screen sharing, sharing handouts, white board and present PowerPoint slides.”
Microsoft is currently working on the next major iteration of Office Communications Server. Currently developed under the codename Communications Server 14, the release is scheduled for release in the second half of this year, although the Redmond company has yet to provide a specific availability deadline.
Microsoft Communicator 2010 Attendee Beta Refresh is available for download here.
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