Internal Instant Messaging

[celestina]

Do you guys know of any reliable and small freeware IM software that I could use in my LAN?

We have 100+ computers in our LAN. However, I'm in a governmental agency, so let's forget about paying money for it in a while. If it turns out to be a success, then I can lobby for licences. So it must be freeware for a while.

Does it make any difference between running it through our server than having it run through the LAN itself? I don't want to overload my server, but I guess it could be easier for the user. Wild guess here.

Any other suggestions? Any input is very welcome.

(an afterthought - if it costs something up to US$30, I can pay for it myself, no prob)

[dunbar]

Assuming a Microsoft OS... Windows has a builtin messaging client... called, I believe, 'Windows Messaging'.

EDIT: if that doesn't quite suit your needs, maybe ICQs java version can be of ise, but everyone needs to register with ICQ (still free). here is the link.

[vass0922]

I think Sun was developing a corporate IM, and I think AOL was too... see if I can find something.


--- edit ---
nevermind I'm a dolt

they're not free

[Manfordjinsen]

Have you tried using Exodus, it's an IM client we use at work on our lan, it's free and heres the link

[celestina]

Thanks, everybody, I'm still looking for a suitable solution.

Manford: I saw that Exodus seems to have tons of updates, etc. The problem is that folks in my lan are pretty much laymen, and I wouldn't want to have to update the program in each computer with frequency. Is that what happens in your LAN? If not, I might seriously consider as a viable alternative. Also, what kind of registration does it demand via the internet? I want to make things easy for my coworkers, because I want to avoid sitting in each computer to do that if it's too time-consuming.

Thanks agains for your attention.

[highrock]

I used realpopup on my network at home. free easy to use.

http://www.realpopup.it/download.html

[wetdog500]

you may want to send console mesages.
there are a lot of disadventages to it though.

to sent one
right click my computer
click manage
then click action and scroll over All tasks
then click sent console message

this probably wont help but its free!

[e980238]

HERE is a solution. JABBER!!!!

There are windows clients for this as well.

[Manfordjinsen]

Originally posted by celestina
Thanks, everybody, I'm still looking for a suitable solution.

Manford: I saw that Exodus seems to have tons of updates, etc. The problem is that folks in my lan are pretty much laymen, and I wouldn't want to have to update the program in each computer with frequency. Is that what happens in your LAN? If not, I might seriously consider as a viable alternative. Also, what kind of registration does it demand via the internet? I want to make things easy for my coworkers, because I want to avoid sitting in each computer to do that if it's too time-consuming.

Thanks agains for your attention.

As long as we have used Exodus at work we havent had to update it at all, just download the inital installation program and set it up on each computer. We've never had to update it or register it with anyone, it's freeware and doesn't have any kind of trial version so it won't quit working after a certain period of time. It's been a really good alternative to MSN messenger for us.

[Siliconjunkie]

I second Jabber, we use it at work with great success.