Businesses and individuals looking for a secure instant messaging (IM) solution will soon have more choice due to an innovative on-demand service that includes collaboration capabilities.
AOL and WebEx Communications have teamed up to create a secure, feature-rich version of the popular AIM service for businesses and at-work instant messaging users.
According to The Radicati Group, Inc., instant messaging has become a mission-critical collaboration tool for an estimated 135 million workers in organizations of all sizes, and is projected to grow to more than 477 million by 2009.
Codenamed 'AIM Pro,' the new service will build on the central role that the AIM service already plays, while offering a customized interface for business users. The new service will be available in two editions: a professional edition designed for individual professionals and small to mid-size businesses, and an enterprise instant messaging (EIM) edition with centralized administrative controls for larger corporations. Both editions of the service will work with enterprise directory services and allow users to securely chat, launch conference calls, online meetings and live demonstrations with any AIM user with just a few quick clicks to the customized AIM Buddy List feature.
The jointly developed service will deliver additional security as well as the voice, video and web collaboration capabilities of the global WebEx MediaTone Network. It will allow workers to instantly connect with the more than 70 million users on the AOL instant messaging network via the AOL, AIM, ICQ and Apple iChat services. Through AOL's AIM Clearinghouse service and federation agreements, users will also be able to securely connect with existing on-premise enterprise instant messaging users.
Brian Curry, vice president, Premium and Subscription Services, AOL, Inc., said,
"We are extremely pleased to be working with WebEx to offer at-work users a customized AIM experience that works in a professional environment and addresses today's business communications needs. Co-created with the recognized business collaboration leader, the new service will bring business-class IM, online conferencing, collaboration, desktop sharing and advanced multimedia services to the global workplace."
Subrah Iyar, chairman and CEO, WebEx, added,
"Our new service combines the reach and flexibility of the consumer AIM service with the security, compliance and administration controls of enterprise instant messaging to create a cost-effective, zero-maintenance business and EIM solution. Over twenty-two thousand companies rely on WebEx applications every day to accelerate the pace of their businesses and optimize interactions with customers, partners and co-workers. By partnering with AOL, the nation's leading IM provider, WebEx is able to deliver an on-demand business IM solution with access to hundreds of millions of AIM and federated IM users."
The new services are expected to be available later this year.
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