Instant messaging puts on a business suit
George Lawton · Computer · 2003
Despite the many users, the three big consumer instant messaging (IM) companies don't make money directly from instant messaging because the service is free. They have thus been looking for a way to sell enhanced IM services to companies. Businesses want more from IM than they get from the consumer versions they've been using. For example, consumer systems typically don't offer security, message archiving, auditing, or ways to control user access.