Instant Messaging – Hosted Instant Messenger http://hostedinstantmessenger.com Hosting Chat Apps in the cloud Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:40:28 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.0.1 What do you want in an IM Client? http://hostedinstantmessenger.com/what-do-you-want-in-an-im-client/ Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:40:28 +0000 http://hostedinstantmessenger.com/?p=53 Continue reading What do you want in an IM Client?]]> Are you searching for an IM client? This is a fun process, but only if you end up with what you really want. Some people know exactly what they are looking for in an IM client and have no problem finding it. Others, those who are not as informed, usually have to take more time to find what they are looking for. It does not matter how long it takes you to find the right tool as long as you get what you want in the end.

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.

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The Benefits of a Secure IM Client http://hostedinstantmessenger.com/the-benefits-of-a-secure-im-client/ Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:51:52 +0000 http://hostedinstantmessenger.com/?p=51 Continue reading The Benefits of a Secure IM Client]]> It is simple to choose an instant messenger. But when doing so you need to find one that is secure. After all, compromising important company information should not be high on your to-do list. Fortunately, you can find a secure IM client so you don’t have to worry about this any longer. When you use a program that is secure at all times you can be rest assured that information that is transmitted will not be lost or shared with somebody on the outside.

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.

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The Right IM Client is only a Step Away http://hostedinstantmessenger.com/the-right-im-client-is-only-a-step-away/ Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:12:37 +0000 http://hostedinstantmessenger.com/?p=46 Continue reading The Right IM Client is only a Step Away]]> Believe it or not, the right IM client is only one step away. That is right; you can get started with instant messaging if you make the next move a good one. There may be many IM clients out there, but if you are careful about the one you select you will definitely be happy with the end result.

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.

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The First Thing to Consider when Selecting an Instant Messenger http://hostedinstantmessenger.com/the-first-thing-to-consider-when-selecting-an-instant-messenger/ Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:54:44 +0000 http://hostedinstantmessenger.com/?p=44 Continue reading The First Thing to Consider when Selecting an Instant Messenger]]> Selecting an instant messenger for your business needs is a big decision. Remember, every decision you make is going to affect your company in one way or the next. Make all the right moves and you will be on your way to a better company and more money. Make a mistake and you could be holding yourself back. While there are many decisions to make when selecting an instant messenger, you have to move from one step to the next in order.

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.

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Why Instant Messaging is better than Email http://hostedinstantmessenger.com/why-instant-messaging-is-better-than-email/ Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:35:10 +0000 http://hostedinstantmessenger.com/?p=42 Continue reading Why Instant Messaging is better than Email]]> Nobody can deny that email has changed the way the corporate world works. More and more people are using email today than ever before. There is no reason to believe that this will ever change. But just because email has so much to offer and has become popular it does not mean that you should be avoiding other modes of communication such as instant messaging. In fact, when you compare instant messaging to email it is easy to see that it offers some additional benefits.

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.

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First Step in Choosing an Instant Messenger http://hostedinstantmessenger.com/first-step-in-choosing-an-instant-messenger/ Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:11:10 +0000 http://hostedinstantmessenger.com/?p=40 Continue reading First Step in Choosing an Instant Messenger]]> Do you know why so many people have a difficult time choosing an instant messenger? The main reason for this is that they do not know the steps to take. Instead of figuring this out, they hope that a miracle occurs. Of course, this is never going to happen. If you are interested in using an instant messenger you need to take the first step.

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!

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IM is Only Good when you use it http://hostedinstantmessenger.com/im-is-only-good-when-you-use-it/ Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:36:54 +0000 http://hostedinstantmessenger.com/?p=38 Continue reading IM is Only Good when you use it]]> Time after time companies face this scenario: they get real excited about IM communication. From there, they find the perfect instant messenger, talk to employees about using it, and hope for the best. But soon enough, something weird happens. The majority of employees go back to their comfort zone which includes communicating mainly via email and telephone.

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.

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Questions to Ask when Selecting an Enterprise Instant Messenger http://hostedinstantmessenger.com/questions-to-ask-when-selecting-an-enterprise-instant-messenger/ Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:53:33 +0000 http://hostedinstantmessenger.com/?p=36 Continue reading Questions to Ask when Selecting an Enterprise Instant Messenger]]> Are you in the process of selecting an enterprise instant messaging tool for your business? If so, you need to know what is most important to you, your employees, and your company as a whole. Choosing an enterprise instant messenger is not as difficult as you may think if you ask yourself the right questions.

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.

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Choosing an Instant Messenger should be Fun http://hostedinstantmessenger.com/choosing-an-instant-messenger-should-be-fun/ Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:01:35 +0000 http://hostedinstantmessenger.com/?p=34 Continue reading Choosing an Instant Messenger should be Fun]]> It is very important that you have fun when choosing an instant messenger for your company. This is a process that many people look at and want to avoid. But guess what? You do not have to be the same way. Believe it or not, you can have a lot of fun when it comes to choosing an instant messenger. There are many aspects of this process that should put a smile on your face.

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!

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AIM: Good for Teens, what about the Office? http://hostedinstantmessenger.com/aim-good-for-teens-what-about-the-office/ Tue, 26 May 2009 14:06:00 +0000 http://hostedinstantmessenger.com/?p=32 Continue reading AIM: Good for Teens, what about the Office?]]> For more than a decade AIM has been the instant messenger of choice for teenagers. Those in high school and college use this program day in and day out to communicate with friends and family. Even though social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace have taken over a bit, there are still tens of millions of people who like to communicate in real time via AIM.

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.

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