IM Research News
The Radicati Group, released results of its latest IM study, "Instant
Messaging Market, 2007-2011." According to the study, Enterprise IM adoption is
being driven by a number of factors, including its immediacy of use and the
benefits of group collaboration. The report shows growing demand as major
platforms, such as IBM Lotus Sametime and Microsoft Live Communications Server/Microsoft Office Communications Server, make instant
messaging a key component of their unified communications strategy. The Radicati
Group also says that revenues in the instant messaging market, including all
segments, is expected to grow from $203 million in 2007, to $530 million by
2011.
IM Clients & Development Platforms
Adium, a free chat client for Mac OS X,
has been recently updated to version 1.1 and features multiple rewritten tab
options. Tab changes, according to the company, include
vertical or horizontal orientation, improved tab drag and drop, improved tab
length calculation, and tabs also display the number of unread messages now.
Other changes in this version include better auto sizing of the contact list,
Custom menu bar icon preservation, and several interface enhancements. Adium
Version 1.1 requires Mac OS X 10.4.0 or later to run.
Miranda IM v0.7.0 Preview Release #1 is now available for download. This is a preview release for those who
enjoy testing and the developers warn that due to major database changes in this
version, so if you download the preview release you should back-up your database
first. This release implements a rewritten back-end designed to improve
internationalization support. The Miranda reports that its IM team is looking for feedback
on its v0.7.0 Preview Release. Details are available at the
Miranda IM blog.
In developer news, Radvision released
SIP Developer Suite
Version 5.0, a development tool for building all types of IMS (define)
and non-IMS SIP
applications. Toolkits and packages available in version 5.0 support the latest
3GPP and TISPAN IMS SIP (define) standards, including signaling compression, security
agreement, IMS registration, SIMPLE (define) OMA compliant presence and instant
messaging capabilities, as well as XML (define) support to name a few capabilities. SIP
Developer Suite Version 5.0 is coded in ANSI C and is part of the Radvision IMS Express.
It is available for all common
operating systems.
Web-based IM
This weekIncrediMail Ltd.
released a closed beta version of its new IM product, codenamed
"Project Messy." According to IncrediMail, Project Messy is an add-on to
existing IM clients that enables users of popular public IM applications to use
those applications without switching programs. With its unique animations and
sound effects, Project Messy is aimed at a younger user demographic.
ChatStat Technologies
announced version 3.1.0.2 of Live Chat. ChatStat's application is designed for use on Web
sites that offer customers live support, and offers statistics about the
site, operators and sales. Live Chat from ChatStat is designed to provide
two-way chat capabilities with site visitors, with support for AIM, ICQ, Yahoo,
MSN, Jabber, GoogleTalk, Skype and Skype Voice. New in Version 3.1.0.2 is a
grid view, a number of modifications, as well as several updates and fixes.
Mobile IM
Geodesic Information Systems has recently expanded its Mundu product line
with Mundu IM — iPhone Edition for the Apple Safari Web browser on the iPhone. The Mundu IM —
iPhone Edition, lets iPhone users access chat across multiple public IM
networks including AIM, MSN, Yahoo, and Google Talk, through a single chat
window. Mundu IM —iPhone Edition adds to the mobile suite of products
including the recent announcement of Mundu IM version 4.0, compatible with Palm
and Windows Mobile Smartphone platforms.
PeerMe, a Silicon
Valley-based communications technology company recently announced its
mobile browser-based IM application. PeerMe users can now IM from
any mobile phone with an internet connection with popular IM services such as
Yahoo and MS, as well as their PeerMe friends. Users simply point their mobile
browsers to the PeerMe mobile Web page
to send and receive instant messages.
Making International mobile IM news this week is Sweden Telenor who is
offering their customers access to Windows Live Instant Messaging
on wireless devices, a service being provided through
OZ Communications. Telenor Sweden's wireless
subscribers can use IM free for the first three months. After the free trial,
subscribers will pay 39Kr a month ($6 U.S.) and the IM capabilities are available
for those using the Sony Ericsson K610i, K800i, W810i and the w880, or the Nokia
5500.
Also, Vodafone Portugal has also
announced expanded IM services adding Yahoo! Messenger service to its Instant
Messaging offer, which already included Windows Live Messenger. This addition is designed to
allow Vodafone Messenger customers to chat with their Yahoo! Messenger
contacts in the same way as they do via PC. Vodafone Messenger is free until the
end of October, after which usage is based on a monthly fee.
Lastly in mobile IM news, T-Mobile
upgraded the handheld software
for BlackBerry 8700/8705. The new version, 4.2.1.91 offers users a number of
fixes, however customers who use the IM client will need to download the IM
application again if they choose to upgrade their handheld software.
IM Security Highlights
FaceTime Communications is now offering
support for Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 by providing management,
monitoring and security with its with its IMAuditor for OCS. A 30-day trial of
IMA for OCS is available immediately, allowing customers to evaluate IMA for OCS
in conjunction with their OCS 2007 evaluations, with the new IMAuditor for OCS
expected to be released by end-month.
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