What you want in an IM client will determine where you turn. For instance, if you are only looking for something basic to use at home there is not much to think about. Choose an instant messenger that you know a bit about, and let it guide you through the setup process. The features list probably does not matter too much.

Of course, there are other people who need more from their IM client. This is definitely true among companies. If you need a good application for use within your company it is important that you do your homework. There are a lot of options out there, and all of them must be considered. Do you need an IM client with a secure network? One that allows you to chat? Do you need to send files quickly and efficiently?

What you want in an IM client does not have to be the same as everybody else. As long as you get what you are personally looking for you will be happy and productive soon enough.

The number one benefit of a secure IM client is that you don’t have to worry about any security breaches. Find an application, such as Brosix, that puts a lot of time and effort into the security portion of their IM client.

As you move forward, you will find another benefit to be that a secure IM client allows you to decide who joins your network. Again, this is a great way to keep others out to ensure that every morsel information is safe. With a secure network you can decide who you, as well as all your employees, are going to be communicating with. If you don’t want them to have the ability to speak with outsiders this is something you can with the help of a secure IM client.

Are you currently using a corporate instant messaging tool? If so, you need to ask yourself this question: is it secure? If you don’t know the answer you need to stop what you are doing and find out. It is very important to choose a secure IM client for your company.

Choosing the right IM client for your business is easier said than done. But this does not change the fact that the right program is out there waiting for you.

How do I know if my next step is the right one? The only way to do this is to research the industry as thoroughly as possible. For example, it is better to compare five IM clients than only three. And if you have the time to look at the pros and cons of all available options, you are putting yourself in an even better position.

Once you are ready to take the next step you should go for it. Don’t second guess the IM client that you are deciding to implement. If you have done your research and know what you are looking for you will end up happy with your selection.

So what is the right IM client for you? Will you take the next step today, or continue to research the industry? Remember, what you decide on will determine the success that you have.

The first thing to consider is what you want your instant messenger to be capable of. If you don’t do this you could get ahead of yourself and wind up making a wrong choice. Not only do you need to know what you want your instant messenger to do for you, but you must be reasonable at the same time. In other words, you should not be searching for something that is clearly unavailable.

Once you find a couple instant messaging applications that offer what you want, you can then move down the line to other details. Soon enough you will realize which programs stand out, as well as the ones that you can probably cross off your short list.

It is not always easy to select an instant messenger, but if you know where to start you can relieve a lot of pressure. Soon enough you will be basing your decision on what you want and need. In the end, this helps to ensure success.

Before we go any further, it is important to note that instant messaging is only better than email in some situations. There are definite times when you should use email. That being said, you don’t want to forget about instant messaging because you think you can do everything via email.

The speed of an instant message is faster than email. Yes, sending an email is quick but not quite “instant.” Not to mention the fact that the recipient can receive the message, write a reply, and hit send all within a matter of seconds. Simply put, it is easier to communicate back and forth when using an instant messaging program.

Instant messaging is also better when you want to communicate with more than one person at once in real time. Sure, you can send an email to as many people as you want, but all of them must reply separately. When you use an instant messaging program you can take advantage of features such as a chat room. This allows everybody to join in on a real time conversation.

Why not take advantage of the best of both words? Use both instant messaging and email to ensure that you are communicating efficiently at all times.

The first step in choosing an instant messenger is to know what is available. This is of utmost importance. How do you know that AIM is the right instant messenger for you if you never take the time to check out the competition? You may find soon enough that another option, such as Brosix or Yahoo Chat, offers more benefits for somebody in your position.

Don’t worry about taking too much time during this first step. Yes, you want to move forward so you can use your instant messenger soon enough. But if you rush you are going to miss out on many important details. You don’t have a choice but to compare as many instant messengers as possible. If you don’t do this you are asking for nothing but trouble. Remember, the time you put in now ensures that you do not have to make any changes in the future.

Neglecting the first step can cause a lot of problems. Take the time to learn a lot about every available instant messaging program. You will learn that some are what you want and that some can be crossed off your short list. Continue to narrow down your options until you eventually find the perfect one!

Simply put, instant messaging is only good when you use it. If you are going to implement this communication tool into your company you have to make sure that the majority of people are going to give it a try. Yes, this is a new way of doing things and it does take something getting used to. But doesn’t everything? Once you use instant messaging for a few months it will become second nature. At that point, you will wonder why anybody is using email to send message back and forth, to schedule meetings, etc.

Don’t let this scare you away from using an instant messaging application. There are always going to be people who do not want to change. Remember, using this tool doesn’t mean that every employee has to stop sending emails or making phone calls. Instead, instant messaging can be used alongside these other modes of communication. Of course, if it ends up taking over that is fine as well.

Don’t let interoffice instant messaging die down. Now that you have a great system in place, you need to make sure that employees take advantage of it day in and day out.

Here are three questions to ask to ensure that you select the right application:

1. What types of features are most important to me? The answer to this question differs from person to person.

2. What are my choices? While there are a lot of instant messengers to choose from, not all of them have the features necessary to be considered suitable for a corporate setting.

3. What is the learning curve? You need to choose an enterprise instant messenger that is not only easy to install, but simple to learn once everything is in place. Remember, many employees will be using the program. You have to choose the one that is simple yet effective.

When selecting an enterprise instant messenger you need to ask yourself the above questions. Once you do, you can then answer them and determine how to move forward.

To start, this is fun because it is something that will better your business. You should be greatly interested in anything that will help your business reach new heights. This may appear to be a small upgrade, but over the long haul it can make a big difference.

Why not get everybody involved? You can do this by researching a few of the best instant messengers, presenting your findings to others, and then letting everybody vote on what they do and do not like. This sort of “round table discussion” can be a lot of fun.

Don’t forget that using an instant messenger is something you are doing for the betterment of your company. It is easy to look at this process as a difficult task if you think the results will be menial. But when you realize how important this is, your position will change.

Have fun when choosing an instant messenger!

AIM is not the best choice for interoffice communication, though. There are three basic reasons for this:

1. AIM is built for basic communication and not much more. There is nothing wrong with this. The fact of the matter is that AOL is not targeting businesses with this application.

2. AIM lacks the features of enterprise IM tools such as Brosix. For instance, the video and chat features of Brosix and other enterprise applications are above and beyond the basic features offered by AIM. It is important that you choose an instant messenger that will suit your needs as a business professional; not just something for quick chats.

3. You do not have the ability to organize, operate, and manage private networks. Brosix allows you create a secure and private network that is hosted on top of the line servers. Only the users that are authorized have access to the network. Not only is this good for safety, but also for keeping employees on task. With AIM you never know who your employees will be talking to. 

This is not to say that AIM is a bad choice. But when it comes to instant messaging applications for companies, big or small, there are options that offer more benefits.