Salesforce.com has updated its Chatter application by adding instant messaging and screensharing features.
Chatter is the company’s enterprise-focused social network, borrowing heavily from the likes of Facebook and Twitter, offering users the capability to update their status as well as share files and information across the whole organisation.
The new update introduces instant messaging (IM), one of the oldest online communication methods around but still one of the most popular.
Chatter Messenger features a number of capabilities that salesforce.com says will eliminate what it calls the "islands of collaboration" – the different parts of collaboration technologies such as email, file management systems, messaging platforms that are not truly joined up, meaning companies are not getting the full benefit of them.
The company says Chatter Messenger brings these tools together through real-time chat features, meaning workers should be able to work together on projects at the same time.
The new suite includes integrated IM. It will work in a similar way to the more consumer-focused IM programs such as Google’s Chat or Facebook Chat. Salesforce.com’s Charlie Richey, product marketing EMEA, told CBR that the new feature will mean workers do not have to drop out of Chatter and into a third-party IM app.
Group Chat has also been added, with anyone in Chatter being able to join a group. A single chat session is limited to 10 people. The Presence element will alert workers to who is and who is not online and available to chat.
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Salesforce.com has also added screensharing capabilities – putting it in direct competition with the likes of Citrix and Cisco. It will enable workers to conduct presentations and training sessions from within the Chatter platform.
Chatter Messenger should hit general availability in June 2012 and will be free of charge to all salesforce.com customers. The screensharing feature will be available as a limited pilot during the third quarter of 2012, salesforce.com said.
"Chatter Messenger and Screensharing deliver Skype-like real-time technologies directly in the Salesforce Chatter feed – empowering companies to run their entire business on one trusted platform," said Kendall Collins, SVP and GM, Salesforce Chatter.
