Instant messaging started out as a purely social means of communication. It probably became popular because there are several providers who let you use this service for free. Yet, the ease of use and the ability to get an immediate response have caused instant messaging to be used more and more in professional and business fields. With this development, new software has been created that allows businesses to control IM use in their companies, but unlike a personal messenger, corporate messenger is not free. Below is a list of some more pros and cons of both types of instant messaging clients.
Pros of Free IM
1.) The most obvious advantage of using public instant messengers like Yahoo! or MSN is that they don't cost anything.
2.) Another positive is the ability to adjust privacy settings; for instance, you are able to block everyone who is not on your contacts list.
3.) You also have the ability to post your status as "away" if it is not convenient for you to IM at any given time.
4.) Users have access to a lot of people.
5.) There are also the general advantages of IM such as instant feedback.
Cons of Free IM
1.) Free IM servers don't encrypt messages, so they can be intercepted and read by anyone who knows how.
2.) Viruses can be sent via messages.
3.) There is no way to enforce company rules.
4.) Employees may waste time chatting with their many contacts.
Pros of Corporate Messenger
1.) Although the software does cost, it is cheaper than the cost of telephone communication.
2.) Corporate messengers encrypt all messages, so company and client information is secure.
3.) There are several additional features offered by corporate messengers, like white board (both parties can draw on a screen, simultaneously sharing ideas), shared screen (the other party can see what's on your screen), and voice IM.
4.) They allow you to send offline messages; stored messages appear on the recipient's screen when the user logs on.
5.) All the regular advantages of IM.
6.) You still have contact lists and status settings.
7.) Only authorized users can send messages.
Cons of Corporate Messenger
1.) It can cost a significant amount of money.
2.) Employees may feel that their privacy is being intruded upon.
3.) Contacts may be limited.
4.) You have to have an administrator.
Who Can Benefit from Each
Individuals and smaller business that want to take advantage of the convenience and efficiency of instant messaging will probably want to use free IM services. Instant messaging is a great way to keep in touch with clients and collaborators. Projects will go more smoothly if you can share information without playing phone tag or having to arrange meetings around everyone's schedule.
Larger businesses will probably want to use a corporate messenger to utilize the added features. Information security is a big plus with corporate IM; clients will have more confidence in your company if they don't have to worry about their information leaking out. Also, a corporate messenger gives your business administration a lot of control of IM use. You can cut down on frivolous IM by restricting contacts and personalizing the features each user has access to.
Whichever type of IM service you choose, your company can benefit from the ease of communication instant messaging provides. So simply take this information provided, and choose the best one for your purposed use.
