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Increasingly, businesses are utilising the possibilities of instant messaging (IM) in the workplace. Offering free, instant communication with anyone at their desk, it's easy to see why organisations are finding it a useful alternative to other forms of communication. Initially, businesses were slow to realise the potential of instant messaging, associating it with socialising, chat rooms and general time-wasting. But over time, managers have granted employees some autonomy and allowed instant messaging software to be used. To conserve space and time, chat rooms and forums and IM software has been flooded with new acronyms and abbreviations, like BRB (be right back), IMO (in my opinion) and SLAP (sounds like a plan). These acronyms help workers to save time when communicating online. Unlike email, IM communications do not operate with each other. Each person must be using the same IM software for communications to take place. Often internet users will have several pieces of IM software to help them stay in touch with everyone. Here are some of the main pieces of free instant messaging software. AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) Developed by America Online, AIM is free software which can be downloaded to your computer or PDA. You don't need an AOL account to use the stand-alone application and you don't have to sign into AOL to use it. You can include multiple participants in conversations and AOL provide a great FAQ and acronym dictionary. They also offer tailored paid IM services for businesses. Microsoft MSN Messenger (MSN) Microsoft's MSN Messenger is also a free application, providing much the same service as AIM. MSN also allows users to upload a profile photo and to share files of any kind over the internet. This can be particularly useful in business. It also allows users to make international phone calls and keeps the user up to date with regular news and weather updates. Microsoft provide a business version called Messenger Connect, allowing companies to connect with customers and external partners using MSN Messenger IM services, with added control and security features. Yahoo! Messenger Yahoo Messenger works much the same as the AOL and MSN software. It tends to be down to who is using which IM software which governs which piece of software should be used, rather than the technology or usability itself. What is the point in being able to conduct video conferences if your colleagues and associates aren't on that network? Yahoo recently launched a subscription based Business Messenger service with new features for small businesses, including audio, video, voice and conferencing capabilities. Google Talk (G-Talk) GTalk is the Google IM software and functions much like any other IM software. It works best with a google email address, so that conversations continued while you were offline are saved to your emails. There is an online javascript version, which can be run without installation. It can also be used to send files and video conference, but doesn't yet have a feature to include more than one party in any given conversation. Google also offer a business edition with increased security and conferencing capabilities.
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