IMlogic Takes Next Step in IM Integratione

By Maria Trombly | Securities Industry News | February 23, 2004

February 23, 2004 - Instant messaging is fine, but wouldn't it be nice if all the different IM platforms could talk to each other, and IM was more closely integrated with the other applications you use every day?

That's exactly the question IMlogic attempted to answer last week, with the rollout of its IM Linkage Preview Edition. Not only will users be able to keep track of buddies on all the major public, enterprise and Wall Street-specific IM systems, but they'll also be able to integrate IM clients into their other applications.

"If you had to route a certain order, it would be great to know who was available," said Francis deSouza, founder and CEO of IMlogic.
By embedding an IM "buddy window" into an application, users would have that information right in front of them. A chat window would only be a click away.

Two applications that do just that are already in the works. Thomson Financial is integrating instant messaging presence awareness into Thomson One and Pilov Solutions will be integrating presence and instant messages into its IMTrader trading application.

Application integration is a boon to instant messaging, said Sara Radicati, president and CEO the Radicati Group, a Palo Alto, Calif.-based consultancy. "It's something that we've always believed was going to make IM take off in a major way."

Radicati added that IMlogic is ahead of the pack, not only with its application integration but in terms of its deals and relationships with the major IM players.

According to deSouza, IMlogic has deals with AOL--both the consumer and enterprise edition IM networks--Microsoft's MSN, Exchange and Live Communication Server; IBM's Sametime and Worksplace; Reuters; and Communicator. In addition, IMlogic is working on an agreement with Bloomberg but has yet to announce a certified partnership.

Because of the deals, IMlogic preserves ads that are presented by the consumer versions of AOL IM and MSN Messenger. However, presence awareness by itself--knowing when friends and colleagues are available--does not need to trigger a chat window and can be embedded in applications without ads, deSouza said. As a result, vendors and users can safely utilize the IMlogic interface without risking the ire of Microsoft and AOL.

"This means that the applications we develop can truly be mission-critical applications, because you know they won't shut you down," deSouza said.