Category: Links

Categories
Communication Links Tips Workplace

Controlling IM Spam

Here at Hosted IM World, we’ve had some problems lately controlling spam comments that are appearing on our blog. Just since Sunday, we have had over 50 spam comments from people trying to sell everything from Viagra to photos of  Megan Fox nude. We have no choice but to spend time clicking ‘Spam’ on each of the 52 comments, hoping for it to die down. In the mean time, researching plugins and steps to take to cut down on the number of spammers may also help.

Just as there are spam emails and spam blog comments, there are also spammers that threaten to bother you on an instant messenger program. The download instant messenger programs I’ve had the most trouble with are MSN Messenger and AIM (although AIM has significantly cut down on this recently).

In order to combat spam IMs, which is the occurrence of random screen names sending you messages that say something along the lines of “Look at this cool new product I’ve found!” or “Still need a job? Visit this site”, you can do 2 things:

  1. Change your privacy settings to make you unsearchable and only give your screen name out to people you trust.
  2. If you have a severe problem with spam, change your screen name and then do step 1.
  3. Download instant messenger programs that are hosted on a secure server, like the new *free* Public Brosix 3 Beta, which is available for Mac, Windows, and Linux. This will close your IM activity from the rest of the internet, eliminating spam.

As technology develops, spam will hopefully decrease, but until that time, download instant messenger programs that have good spam filters and are dedicated to eliminating sketchy users with bad intentions.

Categories
General Links News

Video Chat & IM= Lifesaver?

I went and saw The Taking of Pelham 123 today with my boss and my co-workers (his treat), where we got to eat lunch in a private suite while watching the movie. It was so fun, and the movie is great. But, of course, I have found a way to tie in hosted instant messaging with a hit summer blockbuster. 🙂

One of the hostages, Gio, is shown early in the film talking to his girlfriend on a wireless connect with video chat on his laptop computer. Later, when the train is taken hostage, the laptop continues to stay on and serves as surveillance  for the cops, as the criminals aren’t aware that it is on.

That got me thinking…. was the video chat feature a lifesaver for all of those hostages? Maybe I’m stretching it a little, but it certain made me think about all the different ways that technology can be used and how crucial and important it can be, even saving lives. There are news stories every day of people saving and helping other people through technology- in chat rooms, and other places.

Perhaps I will go into more detail about that in another post. 🙂 There are so many good (and bad) stories of using technology to help others

Have a good weekend everyone!

Categories
Links News

What’s New in IM

The newest wave in hosted enterprise instant messaging- the ability to have a hosted IM client on your smartphone or blackberry. This is clearly the next logical step in total Web 2.0 integration, as taking technology mobile is a booming market right now. Consumers and businesspeople are expecting their mobile devices (like phones and PDAs) to be little computers that can basically do almost anything a full-size computer can do. This is because customers want a product that will allow them to still multi-task and still get things done on the go. A leading business email provider called Intermedia has introduced the first hosted enterprise instant messaging client platform for Blackberry. This allows employees to use their blackberry to chat remotely to other employees or clients that are using their computers to chat.
With full QWERTY keyboards on Blackberry phones and a lot of other models, it is now easier than ever to hold an IM chat conversation, create a document, or send an email. I know that personally, I would love to have a Hosted IM client on my iPhone (when I get one this fall) so I can chat and communication with others from my network, no matter what I am doing. I just got a new job that allows you to telecommute if needed, and being able to still chat with co-workers securely, even though I am not in the office, would be a great help.

Categories
Communication General Links Workplace

More Resources on Hosted IM Programs

If you need more places to find out information on hosted IM programs or IM clients, you are more than welcome to check out my other hosted IM blog, Hosted IM Spot. It provides articles very similar to the ones here and is usually updated 1-2 times per week, depending on how much I am able to post on this blog as well.

Also, I used to write on the Brosix blog and I know that it still has some great bloggers over there that continue to provide great tips about Brosix, instant messaging, workplace communication, and much more.

Additionally, besides blogs, I’ve been able to find a lot of other resources on the web that provides resources for those looking to learn more about free, corporate, and private online and instant communication. I really like to use the forums over at Big Blue Ball and read Brandon’s articles on the IM section of About.com. Both are very reputable sites that continuously provide current and up-to-date information.

I know that the niche of hosted instant messagaging is small, but definitely has a steady group base of consumers that are interested in providing themselves and their employees with a private, secure, and easy to use online communication alternative. I’m sure that hosted IM clients will only continue to grow in popularity.