Microsoft sets corporate IM pricing

SpinnerSpinner Birmingham, UK
edited August 2003 in Science & Tech
Microsoft have said they have now established the pricing for its upcoming corporate instant-messaging software. They say that their Live Communications Server 2003 will initially cost $929 to install and an additional $34.95 per employee.
Live Communications Server is Microsoft's attempt to sell instant-messaging software that's geared for businesses. The software giant believes that companies will pay for IM services that are bundled with security and manageability features. Microsoft expects IM to be the center of its strategy to power corporate Internet networks and plans to provide other features such as Net phone calling and video conferencing.

Live Communications Server will be integrated closely with Microsoft's Outlook corporate e-mail software. Outlook users will be able to respond to e-mail via instant messaging if both the sender and recipient work in corporations equipped with Live Communications Server.

Instant messaging has flourished inside companies, mainly as an alternative communications tool that employees can download for free onto their PCs. IM providers such as America Online, Microsoft's MSN and Yahoo have reported hundreds of millions of downloads for their IM services and are trying to woo more consumers by offering extras, such as photo sharing, interactive games and presence detection, with their technologies.

However, selling IM to the enterprise has been more talk than action. The "big three" Internet companies have introduced enterprise versions of their IM services but have yet to report any significant interest among corporations.


The full report:
http://rss.com.com/2100-1032_3-5062191.html?type=pt&part=rss&tag=feed&subj=news

Comments

  • GargGarg Purveyor of Lincoln Nightmares Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    I'm sure MS' version of Instant Messaging has some nice features that will make it better-suited to the business envirornment. But, if I was in a company's IT department, I think I'd be real tempted to just throw on a free IM program and call it good :)
  • celchocelcho Tallahassee, FL Member
    edited August 2003
    i think i have the same opinion, unless they make it really amazing. seemless net calling would be pretty sweet and might save a big company enough by itself to justify the software.
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