Instant Messaging in the Workplace

November 8, 2006

Schedule of Speakers – Events

Greg Oden – Instant Messaging In The Workplace

Cheryl Carpenter – Instant Messaging on Steroids – Trillian Factor

Richard Evans – Log Me In

Greg Oden – SKYPE Free VOIP With Messaging

Instant Messaging in the workplace

Instant messaging is an Internet service that allows the user to communicate in real time with other users who have the same instant messaging application. Instant messaging includes something called "presence technology," which means that when the user launches the application, they can see who on their contact list is online. Icons on the contact list also indicate who is online but not available for instant messaging, and whether or not the contact is using a mobile device.

Instant messages are basically a chat room for two and conversations flow rather like a telephone conversation; even during peak Internet usage periods, the delay is rarely more than a second or two. In addition to allowing the user to send either text or voice messages, many instant messaging services permit the sharing of Web links, images, sounds, streaming content and files. Most instant messaging applications also permit group chats.

Instant messaging falls into a category of IT called groupware, meaning programs that help people work together collectively while located remotely from each other.

What is EIM?

EIM is an abbreviation for "enterprise instant messaging." Instant messaging applications are generally categorized as either being public or enterprise. AOL's instant messenger (AIM), Yahoo Messenger and Microsoft .NET Messenger are examples of public IM services. Anyone on the Internet can sign up, download the software and begin messaging.

LOL – this is an abbreviation for?

How does instant messaging work?

Most instant messaging systems work the same way. When you launch the application, the messaging client attempts to connect to the messaging server. The messaging server verifies your username and password and logs the client on.

Who is using instant messaging?

90% of businesses will use IM by 2004. (Gartner IM Trends)

Corporate IM is expected to replace 65% of e-mail usage by 2004. (Information Week)

65 million workers are already using instant messaging, and that number is expected to grow to 350 million by 2005. (IDC Research)

Corporate IM usage is expected to account for nearly 60% of all online traffic by 2005.(Ferris Research)

According to the research firm Gartner, as recently as the first financial quarter of 2002, few businesses understood the importance of instant messaging as it relates to the enterprise. IM was thought of as a vehicle for social interaction and many businesses frowned upon its use, simply because it was seen as a threat to worker productivity.

Are all EIM systems alike?

No. Right now, instant messaging is the Wild West of the Internet; it does not have a protocol. There are two schools of thought when it comes to establishing an instant messaging protocol and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) is looking at both to try and create one Instant Messaging and Presence Protocol (IMPP).

Industry leaders like Microsoft, IBM, Sun and Novell favor extending the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) into a new protocol called SIP for Instant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions (SIMPLE). The IETF developed SIMPLE as an extension to SIP for handling instant messaging and presence awareness. SIP was originally developed for voice over IP, but has since incorporated other functionality like Web conferencing, live video and other multimedia.

BRB – this is an abbreviation for?

How can an IT department manage instant messaging?

There are basically three ways a CIO or IT department can manage instant messaging.

The first, and historically the most common, means of IM management is just shutting down the default IM ports, which in theory prevents users from installing and using public IM services.

The second solution is for the IT department to use policy-based management techniques to support one particular public IM service. By signing an acceptable use policy (AUP), the employee indicates that they agree to the employer's stipulations about which IM service is allowed to be used, what corporate screen name should be used and what kind of content is allowed to be shared in an IM.

The third solution is for the IT department to invest in an enterprise-class IM service.

What should a CIO take into consideration when deciding whether or not to purchase

EIM messaging software?

The CIO needs to know what instant messaging will be used for within the organization. This will help a great deal in determining what level of control is required and that, in turn, will dictate what kind of instant messaging service a company needs.

Some small to medium-sized businesses, whose employees may use instant messaging to keep in touch with their kids, might want to consider using policy-based management as an alternative to investing in enterprise-class instant messaging.

If a CIO has concerns about privacy, security or compliance, however, then choosing one of several types of EIM is the way to go.

Your CHOICE...

FWIW – this is an abbreviation for?

If you were a CIO, what should you look for when choosing between

available EIM systems?First you should look for a system that provides a way to manage users. Ideally, the user should be able to log onto the system, including instant messaging, with one username and one password.

Second, you should look for a system that provides security features, such as secure sign-on, digital signatures and encryption.

Can your IM system plug into your current virus protection product?

If your business has specific logging requirements in order to be compliant with government or industry regulations, does your IM service accommodate them?

Does the IM system offer Web conferencing?

Will you need to purchase new hardware to support the IM system?

Is the system easy to implement and manage?

How will an increase in IM traffic affect your overall use of bandwidth?

Google Yourself to Death

Why do instant messaging in the workplace

Instant messaging in the workplace

Instant messaging

Any variation you can think of

WOMBAT – this is an abbreviation for?

Taming the Ping: Office Etiquette for Instant Messaging

Introduce Yourself – Hi I Am Me

Don’t Confuse ‘Presence’ With Permission – Ask Before Chat

Zing the Ping – Mute the Volume – Keep It Private

Fast and Simple – Short and To the Point

Act Professionally – The Misspell Hell – How Was The Pass

Away and Do Not Disturb – Use Them Or Be Abused

Business Not Pleasure – Never Know Who’s Looking

Limit Multi-tasking – You Could Make a Misspell Hell Error

Use Abbreviations Sparingly – I Could Be On the Other End

YYSSW – this is an abbreviation for?

Tips for Safer Instant MessagingBe Careful When Creating Screen Name – Don’t Use Email Address

Create Barrier Against Unwanted IM – Don’t Give Screen Name To Lists

Don’t Provide Sensitive Personal Information In An IM – SS# CC# PW

Only Communicate With Who You Know – Hi I Am Suzy or Could It Be Bob

Don’t Meet Strangers – Enough Said

Never Open Pictures or Download Files – Confirm From Known People

Personal Messages – A No No – All Owned By Your Company

Public Computer – Don’t Select Log On Automatically – Stays There

Monitor and Limit Children’s Use – Enough Said

When Away – Lie – You May Save Yourself

IM is here to stay – Ask the kids...!!!

Teenagers no longer check their e-mail.

I confirmed that in a subsequent conversation with a 16-year-old. "Yep," he said. "It's way too slow. I never check it."

The immediate gratification of instant messaging, commonly called IM, has superseded the possibilities of e-mail for teenagers and college students. My colleague commented that her students found e-mail to be "dinosaur-ish," good only for communicating with parents and teachers.

AWGTHTGTTA – this is an abbreviation for?

Demonstrations

IBM Sametime

AOL Aim

MICROSOFT Windows Live Messenger

Cheryl Carpenter and Instant Messenger on Steroids – The

Trillian Factor

Richard Evans and Log Me In

Greg Oden and SKYPE VOIP With Messaging

Valuable Websites

www.google.com

www.ibm.com/eserver/iseries/sametime

www.logmein.com

www.skype.com

http://www.ceruleanstudios.com/

http://www.netlingo.com/