Bottom Line
Each product offers specialized features and provides a viable IM solution, depending on the needs of the organization. For a customizable, open-source solution, Jabber provides the best set of tools, especially for an enterprise needing to extend the IM infrastructure to include business applications. I didn't find the other solutions to be very customizable (beyond simple interpersonal messaging). Sametime and Live Communication Server integrate seamlessly with Domino and AD, respectively, and therefore are a practical solution for those types of environments. However, for the highest level of control at the administrative level and flexibility at the user level, Akonix A-Series security appliances beat the competition.
How, you say, can I suggest a security appliance over the other server-based solutions? The only difference I see between the different approaches is where the messages are processed. With Akonix, messages are processed on a public server, whereas the other solutions process messages on an internal server. The important enterprise IM features of message archiving, filtering, and authenticating users are managed equally well with all the solutions.
What impressed me most during product testing, especially with regards to the enterprise customer, was Akonix's ability to control all IM traffic while supporting all IM clients. At the enterprise level, administrators worry about how to address the governmental compliance requirements of archiving all IM traffic. The other IM solutions I looked at work well to manage real-time communication as an infrastructure but fail to address users who use Google Talk or any of the other 50 IM clients available for free download.
So how should you approach enterprise IM deployment? I recommend you start by implementing the Akonix solution to control the organization's IM use rather than standardizing on one IM solution. The problem is that within a large organization, users might be using as many as 20 different IM clients, both internally and externally. A brutish approach would be to force all users to uninstall their preferred client and use one enterprise-wide solution. The Akonix approach provides the necessary security, policy enforcement, and archiving capabilities at the enterprise level, with the least impact on end users. With this in place, the organization can then gradually standardize users on a single internal IM solution such as Jabber XCP, Sametime, or Live Communication Server, depending on your organization's needs and the infrastructure in place.
Summary
Jabber XCP 5.1, JabberNow 1.1 PROS: Wide user base; open source protocol CONS: Additional systems might be needed for policy provisioning and security filtering RATING: PRICE: Jabber XCP starts at $35 per seat (volume discounts available); maintenance and support annualized at 15%-20% of license cost; JabberNow starts at $2495 for 25 users RECOMMENDATION: If you need an easily customized IM solution, the open-sourcecode-based Jabber XCP is a good fit for large enterprises that need secure, interoperable, and compliant IM. For small and midsized businesses, the JabberNow appliance might be better suited to your budget. CONTACT: Jabber
303-308-3231 www.jabber.com
Summary
IBM Lotus Sametime 7.5 PROS: Integrates seamlessly into an existing Lotus infrastructure CONS: Only a viable solution for Lotus shops RATING: PRICE: Licensed as a component of Lotus Domino, $55 per seat RECOMMENDATION: For Lotus environments, this is a satisfactory solution for providing IM, presence awareness, and Web conferencing; other environments should look at other solutions. CONTACT: IBM
800-426-4968 www.ibm.com
Summary
Microsoft Office Live Communication Server 2005 PROS: Integration with AD simplifies administration of IM users CONS: Security and user control requires separate Group Policy management RATING: PRICE: Live Communications Server 2005 Enterprise Edition license with 25 CALs, $4,969; Live Communications Server 2005 Standard Edition license with 5 CALs, $1,199 RECOMMENDATION: For AD environments, Live Communication Server is likely the best IM solution for the organization, and its ease of use and functionality make it a good alternative for end users as well. CONTACT: Microsoft
800-642-7676 www.microsoft.com
Summary
Akonix A-Series Appliances (A6000 and A1000) PROS: Flexible network gateway manages all real-time messaging traffic from multiple IM clients CONS: High start-up cost may deter small business implementation RATING: PRICE: A6000 IM security appliances start under $10,000 plus per-seat pricing from $20 to $75. A1000 IM security appliances for small and medium businesses start under $5,000 with 100-seat license included RECOMMENDATION: Offers the highest level of administrative control and security, as well as good user flexibility; highly recommended CONTACT: Akonix Systems
619-814 2300 www.akonix.com
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