Microsoft's next-gen instant-messaging/real-time collaboration product, Live Communications Server 2005, hit Release Candidate 1 beta stage on Monday, as reported by NeoWin and other sites around the Web. Live Communications Server 2005, code-named "Vienna," is on track to ship before the end of 2004, Microsoft officials said Tuesday. (Windows Messenger 5.1, Microsoft's enterprise instant-messaging client, also is in final-beta stages.) Also on Tuesday, Microsoft and Polycom announced a partnership around Live Communications Server 2005 and other related Microsoft Office System products.