|
|
 |
|
|
Menu:
In This Section:
|
Instant Messaging Service ThoughtsInstant messaging is one of the hot, new technologies that can be a real time-save or time-waster (if you're not careful!). Instant messaging allows you to text "chat" with people on your "buddy" or "contact" list. Depending on the service you choose you can also make a phone call (using an IP telephony provider like Net2Phone - see our review of long distance providers on our Long Distance Ratings and Review page) send files or photos or go to a "chat" room to continue a conversation or even do a video conference with a friend or business associate. There are a few things to remember when you use instant messaging and when you choose a provider:
Let's get to it. Our review of Instant Messaging Services and Service Providers follows. (Note: If you don't recall our rating system: Rating Guide.)
Instant Messaging Services ReviewInstant Messaging Services and Service Providers* (Rankings - best, 5 symbols, worst, 1 symbol)
* A = Amateur, R = Rookie, P = Pro
Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹ Getting started with AIM is simple and straightforward. You download the client for your PC (Windows, Macintosh or Linux), create your account (and "screen name" by which you will be known to your "buddies) and create your buddy list (or invite your customers and contacts to become your buddies). Cost - $$$$$ It's free - what could be better than that? Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹ AIM can be a real time saver when you just need a quick conversation with your customers or business contacts - but don't get too addicted! Then, it's a time waster! Ease of Use - @@@@ The AIM software is easy to use and understand (your kids are probably using it right now!). Works With - YYYYY AIM works in Windows, Linux and Macintosh environments as well as on your phone and handheld. Support - pppp It's a free service - but with that said, it's a highly available free service. And, even though you're using a free service, you still have access to AOL's technical support page, as well as the ability to send tech support questions via email or even using their "800" number. Features - iiii1/2 AIM 6.1 has some nice features that go beyond just text messaging. You can use it to read your email (including AIMMail), send files or photos or even make a PC to PC voice call or PC to phone or even video conference with friends and business associates (you must sign up and pay for the IP long distance voice call that terminates on the telephone network). New features in 6.1 include Mbile IMs, buddy info images, color changes, offline IMs, IM grouping, IM logging, picture sharing buddy list docking, PC to PC chat, Wallmations and AIM pages. It also includes AIM Express for sending messages from a web browser, free AIM phoneline that includes Caller ID and voicemail, free PC security check and Active Virus Shield virus protection. AOL, like other instant messaging services, is trying to get you to use their client/service as the single interface for all your communications in the future. Additionally, AIM is available on a number of wireless services including those of Sprint/Nextel, T-Mobile and Verizon. And, AIM Express allows you to send message to AIM users from a web browser. Finally there is also an AIM PRO edition for the corporate (or security conscious small business owner) user that includes integration with Microsoft Outlook, WebEx, file sharing and "business grade" security. AIM 4.7 for Macintosh includes Friendly Name support, file sharing and more and AIM 1.5 for Linux has a wireless icon, file transfer capability and an idle time display. Overall Rating - %%%%1/2 AIM is the most popular of the instant messenger services. It's been around the longest and has the most extensive "reach" with it's wireless partnerships. If you're going to utilize only one instant messaging service - AOL's AIM is probably the most logical choice.
Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹ Famatech is purchasable (although they offer free download trials) IM software. The software downloads and installs in a straight forward manner. Cost - $$$$ Famatech prices their Radmin CS (instant messenger) at $175.00 for the first 50 users ($3.50 per user), $125.00 for each 50 additional users thereafter ($2.50 per user). Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹ Radmin CS is designed to include more robust and "private" IM capabilities. Good for saving time in communicating with business associates. Ease of Use - @@@@ Radmin CS is simple to understand and use. Works With - YYY Radmin CS is designed for the Windows environment. Support - ppp+ The tech support area of the Famatech web site includes a FAQ, a user forum to ask questions, and get answers. You can contact tech support via email as well.
Radmin CS includes the ability to run on almost any Windows platform, mutli-user real time chat, custom fonts, text color and size, nicknames, VoIP support, conference mode with microphone queue, customizable voice quality settings, public and private channels, short text message sending and 256-bit encryption with randomly generated keys. It also supports authentication based on Diffie-Hellman 2,048 bit key exchange and an IP filter table to restrict access to specific IP addresses or networks. Overall Rating - %%%% A nice set of capabilities - especially authentication and encryption - for the business IM user who wants to ensure the privacy of their IM communications.
Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹ Getting started with ICQ is simple and straightforward. You download the client for your PC (Windows, Macintosh or Palm OS), create your account (and username for identification) and create your friends list (or invite your customers and contacts to become your friends). Cost - $$$$$ It's free - what could be better than that? Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹ ICQ can be a real time saver when you just need a quick conversation with your customers or business contacts - but don't get too addicted! Then, it's a time waster! Ease of Use - @@@@ The ICQ software is easy to use and understand. Works With - YYYY1/2 ICQ works in Windows, Macintosh and Palm OS environments as well as Symbian phones and the Nokia Communicator. Support - pppp It's a free service - but with that said, it's a highly available free service. And, even though you're using a free service, you still have access to ICQ's technical support page, as well as the ability to send tech support questions via email or even using their "800" number. Features - iiii1/2 ICQ is very focused on international markets (our German friends use the service extensively). It is therefore the most robust in language support (including Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, Turkish and many, many more) and Short Messaging Service (SMS) support. SMS is huge in international markets so ICQ's integration is a big winner for them in their chosen markets. ICQ also allows you to send short voice messages, make phone calls, and even do a Web-cam based video conference. ICQ has three clients to choose from - see the table below to find the "right" one for your unique communications requirements. ICQ also offers a toolbar and ICQ mail as well. There are also ICQ versions for your wireless phone and PDA.
Overall Rating - %%%%1/2 If you need to communicate internationally and want a cheap way to do it - ICQ's service is a great solution! Get going!
Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹ Getting started with Windows Live Messenger is simple and straightforward. You download the client for your PC (Windows, Pocket PC, Microsoft TV), create your account (and contact information) and create your contact list (or invite your customers and contacts to join the service). Cost - $$$$$ It's free - what could be better than that? Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹ Windows Live Messenger can be a real time saver when you just need a quick conversation with your customers or business contacts - but don't get too addicted! Then, it's a time waster! Ease of Use - @@@@ The Windows Live Messenger software is easy to use and understand. Works With - YYY Windows Live Messenger works in Windows and Windows-oriented environments (Pocket PC, Microsoft TV). Support - ppp1/2 It's a free service - but with that said, it's a highly available free service. You'll get support if you're an MSN or Hotmail member - and access to MSN's robust technical support page and online "chat" support. Features - iiii1/2 Windows Live Messenger has some nice features that go beyond just text messaging. You can use it to read your email, send files or photos or even make a PC to PC voice call or PC to phone, even make a video call (you must sign up and pay for the IP long distance voice call that terminates on the telephone network). MSN, like other instant messaging services, is trying to get you to use their client/service as the single interface for all your communications in the future. Additionally, Windows Live Messenger integrates the features of Microsoft's NetMeeting software to allow you to collaborate on documents as well as "chat". MSN also includes wireless connectivity for your Internet-enabled cell phone or PDA and SMS messaging as well. Windows Live Messenger also includes Windows Live Alerts for news, sports, traffic or other notifications. Overall Rating - %%%% Windows Live Messenger is the most popular of the instant messenger services with businesses. Because of it's ties to Microsoft and collaboration tools such as NetMeeting it's lack of "numbers" in the installed base are offset by the "quality" of its user base. If most of your instant messaging will be done with enterprises rather than individuals Windows Live Messenger is a good choice.
Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹ Just download the client from the Qnext web site and you're off and running. Cost - $$$$$ It's free - what could be better! Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹ Qnext's IM services (and more) can be real time savers when you just need a quick conversation with your customers or business contacts - but don't get too addicted! Then, it's a time waster! Ease of Use - @@@@ The Qnext interface is simple and straightforward to use. Works With - YYY1/2 Qnext's software currently is Windows and Linux compatible. Macintosh OS X support is planned. Support - ppp Qnext has an online manual and FAQ at their website. If you need help or want to report a bug, you must email them. Features - iiii Lots of features and functions in their peer2peer environment. The software includes a universal instant messenger client (so you can still talk to your AIM and MSN buddies), audio chat, video conferencing, file transfer, file sharing, photo sharing, online gaming, music streaming and remote access to your PC (When you're on the road, from another Internet-connected PC. This is "free" versus services like "GotoMyPC" that charge a monthly or yearly fee for the same functionality.) group text chat, Internet relay chat, encryption and no size limit on file sizes or content and you can play "GO" online with your buddies as well. Overall Rating - %%%% Qnext is a great product/service - and it's free. Take a look at this service/software - it's worth your time to check it out and install.
Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹ Getting started with Yahoo! Messenger is simple and straightforward. You download the client for your PC (Windows, Macintosh, Unix or Phone, create your account (and ID) and create your contact list (or invite your customers and contacts to join the service). Cost - $$$$$ It's free - what could be better than that? Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹ Yahoo! Messenger can be a real time saver when you just need a quick conversation with your customers or business contacts - but don't get too addicted! Then, it's a time waster! Ease of Use - @@@@ The Yahoo! messenger software is easy to use and understand (your kids are probably using it right now!). Works With - YYYY1/2 Yahoo! Messenger works in both Windows, Macintosh, Unix and some phone environments. Support - pppp It's a free service - but with that said, it's a highly available free service. And, even though you're using a free service, you still have access to Yahoo!'s technical support page, as well as the ability to send tech support questions via email or even using their "800" number. Features - iiii1/2 Yahoo! Messenger has some nice features that go beyond just text messaging. You can use it to read your email, send files or photos or even make a PC to PC voice call or PC to phone or even make a video call (you must sign up and pay for the IP long distance voice call that terminates on the telephone network) as well as search from your IM window, synchronize your contact information with your address book, broadcast music, participate in online gaming and share photos. Yahoo!, like other instant messaging services, is trying to get you to use their client/service as the single interface for all your communications in the future. Additionally, Yahoo! Messenger is available on the wireless services of AT&T and Verizon. Yahoo! Messenger also has strong language support offering software in most European, Pacific Rim and Americas languages. Finally, Yahoo! also offers a browser-based IM service that allows you to do IM without downloading client software. Overall Rating - %%%%1/2 Yahoo! Messenger is the most popular of the instant messenger services. If you and your contacts are big users of the Yahoo! portal or other Yahoo! services, Messenger is a strong contender and a good international alternative to ICQ.
If you have suggestions, on other companies for us to review, please send us a note through our Contact Us page. |
|
Treillage Network Strategies, Inc. ©
2006 Send mail to
webmaster@homeofficereports.com with questions or comments about this web
site. |
|
)