IM Advice

Hi folks,

I have been asked by my boss to look into an IM solution for our employees
(35 employees at 6 locations).  She said that she used something at her last
workplace where it ran in the system tray and she could click on it, and it
would come up, she could pick a corporate user, and IM them and recieve
messages.  She thought it was a part of Office 2003, but I do not think
something like that is included.
Anyone have any advice on what to use?  I guess one option is Office
communication server, but it looks like a large program, and I am really only
interested in IM for all our employees.

Mike

Hi folks,I should have added the reason I am posting here, is that we are

Hi folks,

I should have added the reason I am posting here, is that we are running
SBS2003, so I thought someone running SBS might have experience in this area.

Mike

Jabber used to be freehttp://www.jabber.

Jabber used to be free
http://www.jabber.com/CE/JabberHome2
it is now owned by Cisco and I am confused on their website if it is free or
not?

You could always use MS Messenger.
http://download.live.com/messenger

Russ

--
Russell Grover - SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]
Microsoft Gold Certified Partner
Microsoft Certified Small Business Specialist
24hr SBS Remote Support - www.SBITS.Biz
Question or Second Opinion $25.00 - www.PersonalITConsultant.com
Free Trial Microsoft Online Services - www.Microsoft-Online-Services.com

If you go with Live Messenger as Russ suggested do not forget to

If you go with Live Messenger as Russ suggested do not forget to install
Messenger Plus, a free addon, which extends Live Messenger capabilities
(really nice features :)) - I use it on daily basis and I pretty sure it
meets all your requirenments, it also has nice Voice feature, which gives you
opportunity to save some money on phone calls.

Jabber is also a niceoption, but jabber is not communicator, and it was not
accuired by Cisco. Jabber is a protocol based on XMPP. Cisco accuired Jabber
Inc., which was / is the comany to produce its own implelmentation of Jabber
server and Jabber client. There are a few open source jabber server
implementation that mostly run on *nix systems. However to use jabber you do
not need to run your own server, there are several organizations / companies
that will allow you to create a free jabber account (the most known is
http://www.jabber.org) install Jabber clients on employees computers, there
are plenty to choose from.

One more thing to rememeber about jabber is that it can run transports on
the server. Transport allows clients who use jabber to comminucate with
people who uses different IMs for instance yahoo messenger, msn and so on...
So it can be a good option if you plan to communicate also with peole
external to your organization and you do ot want to install 5 different IM
clients on desktps.
To read more vissit: jabber.org

And my five cents, even that I have listed quite a few advanteges of using
jabber, Live Messenger from Microsoft is my first chooice, due to great Voice
feature and stability.

With kind regards
Krystian Zieja
http://www.projectenvision.com

Guys,Thanks for the replies. I will look at the options you have mentioned.

Guys,

Thanks for the replies.  I will look at the options you have mentioned.

Mike

Thanks I was honestly Unaware of the Status of Jabber...

Thanks I was honestly Unaware of the Status of Jabber...
Russ

--
Russell Grover - SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]
Microsoft Gold Certified Partner
Microsoft Certified Small Business Specialist
24hr SBS Remote Support - www.SBITS.Biz
Question or Second Opinion $25.00 - www.PersonalITConsultant.com
Free Trial Microsoft Online Services - www.Microsoft-Online-Services.com

On the SBS 2003 server I have used "Wildfire" (now called OpenFire) foryears

On the SBS 2003 server I have used "Wildfire" (now called OpenFire) for
years -- works well and has AD integration.  For clients I use Pandion which
is getting old but the end users like the interface and small footprint.

I do not let them IM outside the office though (by choice).

--
Allan Williams