Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server
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IM for business:
Introduction Next-generation IM Putting IM to work IM still not secure 1. SCIM Enterprise Server 2. Lotus Sametime 3. Microsoft Exchange Comparison Sample scenario About RMIT Labs |
Microsoft’s Instant Messaging Server is a part of the Exchange Server 2000 package. One of the (many) options you have when you install Exchange is the Instant Messaging Service, which provides the ability for the server to act as an Instant Messaging Home Server, Instant Messaging Router, or both. A Home Server is used to house users, while a Router is used to send messages off to other servers.
You can setup the instant messaging server as intranet only or Internet capable.
Microsoft’s IM Client is of course the ubiquitous MSN Messenger, installed with just about every Windows desktop on the planet. It is clean, simple, easy to use and familiar to many millions of users worldwide.
Looking ahead, part of the Microsoft roadmap is the “Greenwich” IM system, which is part of the .NET Web services strategy. One of the features of Greenwich is its logging capability, which allows users to see instant messaging conversations they’ve had in the past. In fact, there are some industry segments in which that is a regulatory requirement—financial services or medical services, for example, are required to keep records of all written correspondence.
| Product: | Microsoft Exchange |
| Price: | AU$69,942 (500 users) |
| Vendor: | Microsoft |
| Phone: | 13 20 58 |
| Web: | www.microsoft.com.au |
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| Interoperability: |
Supports Windows. |
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| Futureproofing: |
½Will grow with the Windows environment. |
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| ROI: |
Recommended for those building on a Windows infrastructure. |
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| Service: |
½Limited express warranty; e-mail, phone, and onsite support available. |
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| Rating: |
½ |
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Jabber is a good solution. Not only is it an open standard, however, you can find many open source and even commercial solutions.
See: http://www.jabber.org.au/