Sprint launches enterprise IM

Sprint today pushed the instant messaging market one big step forward, launching the first carrier-backed enterprise IM solution.

Sprint Enterprise IM, which is available as either a managed hosting platform or as a server behind the corporate firewall, is geared to intra-corporate IM but can allow carriers to reach users on either a desktop or wireless handset. Sprint, which is using an unnamed third-party vendor for the IM software, will brand the IM through its E|Solutions group.

While the majority of the IM software vendors have been chasing the enterprise market for some time with enhanced capabilities including voice calling, Sprint is first large carrier to enter the space.

The company initially is targeting early adopters with an application that lets users respond to events with preprogrammed actions.

“One of the perfect applications is a CIO who decides to deploy IM within his own staff,” said Kenny Wyatt, marketing director for Sprint E|Solutions. “Being able to tie things like presence and status in an always-on atmosphere, the possibilities are endless. We see this quickly becoming tied to an Exchange environment or a Notes environment.”

Corporate IT departments traditionally have not looked favorably on IM due to security concerns. Sprint believes it has found the answer to security in standard SSL encryption. It also has the option of using for additional security measures on both the desktop and the server. Status and presence on wireless handsets will be handled via the J2ME standard. Still, the company knows selling to IT decision makers will be a slow process.

“There’s going to be a lot of convincing to overcome some of the perceptions that have been created in the marketplace,” said Wyatt.

Sprint is currently offering the IM service on a trial basis, providing users up to 20 seats for free for 60 days. Both the client and demonstration versions of the server software are available at http://www.sprintesolutions.com/imdownload.