| September 28, 2007
I've been relying on instant messaging (IM) for 26
years since CompuServe. To me, it's as natural (and essential) as telephone and indoor plumbing.
Corporate circles adopted IM a decade ago. Small businesses also caught on, using garden variety consumer
services. Since 2003, we've been facilitating the development and deployment of
a sensible hybrid solution, internally referred to as AIM-LT.
What is AIM-LT?
- a 4-part customization and deployment project (not a
deliverable product):
- a striped-down version of AIM 5.5.3595, adapted for business
use
- deployed custom registry modification
- administer Bravo standard issue (scripted) optimized
application settings
- setup corresponding host-based firewall rules to further
enforce restrictions
- small footprint: 8M HD, 9M memory, vs 25M~100M HD, 16M~90M
memory
- zero unauthorized background traffic
- harness free consumer software & service, streamline it, add
corporate style admin
Why older custom version, instead of
latest consumer version from AOL?
- frugal on resources, works well even on
500MHz systems
- improve security: no risky
non-essential features = smaller attack surface
- more privacy: less spying/monitoring/reporting
- reduce distractions and unprofessional appearance
- conserve on-screen space
- less drain on Internet bandwidth
- 5.9 and 6.x add nothing to core collaborative functions, only
more complexity and intrusion
- avoid incessant changes of menu structure & user interface
layout, streamline support
Why not server-based "real" corporate messaging products?
- over-kill: complexity, required constant IT admin services
- prohibitive costs to acquire
- many have recurring per-seat licensing fees, renewable annually
- small businesses lack the prerequisite economy-of-scale
What are the core collaboration features that are retained
and supported?
- text messaging
- direct dragging of pictures (not quite "whiteboard," no
annotation)
- live, clickable URL
- file transfer (requires explicit actions by both parties) w/
throttling, unlimited size
- conference room (multiple participants)
- saving of conversation log in HTML
What notably objectionable/harmful features are eliminated/restricted?
- shopping tabs
- music playing/browsing tabs
- advertising banners (top of buddy list)
- stock & news tickers
- excessive and unprofessional sound effects
- bundled media player (Viewpoint) w/ adware
- bundled online game network (WildTangent)
- bundled AOD (AOL on Desktop) essentially monitoring spyware
- AIM expressions (loud and busy background)
- Buddy icons (animated)
- AIM Today (tabloid style news site)
- AOL Search
- file sharing (acting as file server)
- announcing what song you're playing
- tie to AOL email
- voice calls & video calls
How safe/dangerous is it?
- much safer than web & email
- no default and passive acceptance
- harder to leverage massive abuse
- far more obscure
- optional encryption available:
- requires installation and
configuration of PKI certificate
- addresses: authenticity, confidentiality, integrity and
irrefutability
Other related solutions: status, niche/purposes?
- MiniAIM: part of our stand-alone portable toolkit
- Pidgin: a fork of open source GAIM, cross-platform (OS),
multi-protocol
- EM2: ultra lite client for AIM
SEE ALSO:
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