Network Computing is part of the Informa Tech Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

Analysis: Mobile Instant Messaging: Page 12 of 12

These devices keep archives of all IM traffic on a corporate network and can ensure compliance with IM policies, restrict communications to authorized endpoints and protect against IM-borne attacks. Security gateways also let companies comply with regulatory requirements.

What, Us Interact?

The mobile IM protocol standardization picture is largely the same as the desktop IM protocol standardization picture--getting better, but still ugly.

Mobile-specific initiatives include the IMPS protocol for communications between a handset client and an operator-hosted gateway, and an effort by the GSM Alliance. The GSMA initiative involves 15 leading mobile-phone operators looking to create interoperable IM networks that are cellular-operator hosted. This is of less interest in the United States, where operator emphasis is on enabling third-party services, but for other countries it will ensure that an IM user on one operator-hosted service will be able to communicate with users on other operator-hosted networks.

Peter Rysavy is president of Rysavy Research, a consulting firm specializing in wireless networking.

Go Here for Charts and Images from this article >>