Instant messaging world

As IM fever engulfs business, pricey products promise to secure it. Frank Thorsberg, special to PCWorld.com Instant messaging may have started out as a tool for teens, but it has morphed into a valuable communications tool for millions of business users. And as those businesses discover IM's benefits, they also encounter its risks--and a host of new products aimed at reducing those risks. These new products are available from everyone from big-name companies such as Microsoft and America Online to smaller start-ups, such as IMlogic Software and FaceTime Communications. They vary greatly in price and scope, but most of the products offer similar features: risk and security management tools, including searchable storage, usage monitoring, and controls over employee usage. But beyond the basic features, these products can vary widely. So how do you know if your company needs the security they offer, and whether you're getting your money's worth? Small Firms, Big Worr...

You have all your e-mail and Web-filtering software in place, and you carefully monitor message logs for signs of abuse. But little do you know that for months, a disgruntled employee has been instant messaging company secrets to a friend who works for one of your competitors. And he's been using commonly available utilities to disguise sensitive files as MP3s, which he shares openly using peer-to-peer file-sharing services. The explosion of instant messaging and P2P file-sharing applications in the workplace is a new security challenge. Employees can easily download such applications for free, often without IT detection. The threat from such applications amounts to much more than simply lost productivity and wasted time. Divulging company secrets is only one of the serious threats posed by IM and P2P applications. Both provide new entry points to your network for intrusions, data theft, denial-of-service attacks, viruses, and worms. In fact, security vendor Symantec reported in on...

The budding area of linking text-based instant messaging with other media receives another boost, as IM provider Jabber, Inc., plans to add video to its platform. Denver-based Jabber licensed technology from NetGen Video, which enables users to send TV-quality video messaging clips to each other. Because the video is sent at intervals, the system avoids the problems frequent in streaming media -- like buffering delays and dropouts that occur even with relatively high-speed connections. The resulting NetGen video clip plays at 30 frames per second, scaling in resolution to accommodate the viewer's processor. While NetGen Video's ImageIQ process uses Windows Media Encoder as its actual compression codec, the file is reduced in size before encoding using the company's scaling technology. After decoding on the receiver's end, ImageIQ scales up the image to the appropriate resolution. In return, Westborough, Mass.-based NetGen Video's parent, LegatoVideo, has been a Jabb...

Primus Telecommunications Group, Inc. has entered into an agreement with Microsoft Corp. to provide Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) services for MSN Messenger Service customers. Marketed as "PrimusTalk," once a user has logged into MSN Messenger Service, calls can be made by clicking on the "Make a Phone Call" link. A phone dialer will appear where a call can be made to any number -- national, international or mobile. The McLean, Va.-based Primus will provide PrimusTalk service as an Internet telephony application that can be accessed by any user accessing MSN Messenger Service. Specifically, the PC-to-phone service will be integrated with the MSN Messenger Service as an option that may be accessed by users of Microsoft client software programs. "Primus is leading the way to a carrier class era of converged communications solutions," said John Melick, co-president of Primus and one of the principal developers and implementers of the company's VoIP ...

A new beta release of AIM's client software moves the instant messaging service ahead on its increasing awareness of the challenges posed by social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. With the release of AIM 2.0.222, "Lifestream" features offer users a way to post to their accounts on Twitter, Facebook, delicious, Digg, YouTube and flickr from the client, providing a one-stop location for updates to and from assorted buddies, friends and contacts on those services. AIM has also enhanced mobile integration, allowing users to update their statuses or receive updates from their contacts via SMS. One-way integration with the services, using the AIM client as a way to receive updates, was introduced earlier in the summer when lifestream.aim.com was introduced. Setting up a new connection between an AIM account and a service involves clicking an "add" link on the service and stepping through whatever authorization mechanisms it provides. Connecting an AIM acco...

It used to be that businesses had a general dependance on what types of products and services were attractive to the internet users. In the early days of the Internet, networking LAN technologies and needs were the driving force behind the creation of many software applications and tools that users accessed. The growing popularity of the World Wide Web with casual computer users led to a paradigm shift in how to approach usable software solutions for these users. Simple to install and use software applications such as file sharing, e-mail and instant chat programs were instantly popular. Businesses began to take notice of how these tools could be useful in everyday work settings. As such, organizations began to look into how to utilize collaborative tools such as sending IMs on LANs, social network portals and productivity applications to support their objectives. Initial tools required either using obscure and hard to understand command line utilities such as net send in order to comm...

Apptix Secure Instant Messaging is an enterprise-class messaging system that protects against security breaches without compromising the efficiency and productivity of instant communications. Native integration with Microsoft Outlook® provides real-time Presence awareness for more effective connections. Key Benefits * Enhanced communication and collaboration through media-rich interactive audio or video online meetings * Significant reduction of business travel costs * Recording functionality for future playback * Seamless integration with other hosted solutions * Includes Secure Instant Messaging Standard Features * End-to-end encryption * One-on-one or multi-user chats * Integration with Microsoft Outlook * Direct access to contacts within Global Address List * Real-time Presence information * Alerts when contacts become available Optional Capabilities In addition to standard IM service, Apptix enables you to extend your Instant Messaging capabilities...