Partnership boosts wireless instant messaging

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By By Cathleen Moore

(IDG) -- Slam Dunk Networks and e-Vantage Solutions formed an alliance Wednesday to offer guaranteed delivery and security for wireless IM (instant messaging) transactions.

Under the partnership, New York-based e-Vantage is integrating Slam Dunk's guaranteed delivery network services into its wireless messaging platform, dubbed TMX (Transaction and Message Exchange). TMX contains rules-based workflow, transaction management, and wireless gateways that support mobile and Internet-based transactions. The combined offering can guarantee message delivery and automatically track, store, and audit each wireless instant message as it moves along the network, according to Slam Dunk officials.

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The infusion of guaranteed delivery services with wireless messaging will further the use of wireless IM in enterprises such as those that need to comply with SEC requirements for communications, said Jeff O'Mara, director of marketing communications at Slam Dunk, in Redwood City, California.

"IM is explosive and easy to use, but it doesn't have hardened and guaranteed receipt, delivery, and audit trail that is especially critical for business use," he said. "Particularly in financial services, where enterprises need to have an audit or guarantee of delivery, the application has been limited."

Earlier this week, Microsoft announced plans to embed IM archiving technology into future versions of its enterprise-level IM products. The Redmond, Washington-based software giant inked a licensing agreement with Boston-based IMlogic, which makes technology designed to record, log, index, search, audit, and retrieve IM communications.

Cathleen Moore is an InfoWorld senior writer.