In a 2005 survey, Nemertes found that 76% of medium and large companies use some form of instant messaging. In a similar study, Gartner found that 65% of employees use IM in the workplace and suggested that public IM usage in the enterprise will be ubiquitous by 2008. Now a recent study by the Radicati Group suggests that IM is seeing strong uptake in the business world largely due to its immediacy of use. Additionally, IM’s presence functionality makes it easy for co-workers to 'find' each other online, thus providing a much-needed tool for group collaboration.
In the year 2007, it will be considered strange if a company is not using some form of instant messaging (IM) technology. That's a far cry from a few years back, when IM was still somewhat mysterious and many enterprises did not allow its use for fear of plummeting productivity and information leaks. According to Nemertes Research principal analyst and program director Irwin Lazar, a recent study found that between 2005 and 2006, IM use in the enterprise has 'exploded'.
In a 2005 survey, Nemertes found that 76% of medium and large companies use some form of IM. Gartner, in a similar study, found that 65% of employees use IM in the workplace. Gartner also suggests that public IM usage in the enterprise will be ubiquitous by 2008.
"This number will clearly rise as the IM-savvy next generation enters the workforce," Gartner analyst Peter Firstbrook wrote in a report. "IM is recognised as a fast way to get co-workers' attention, rapidly resolve issues/questions, and save telecommunications costs. However, uncontrolled IM usage, as with uncontrolled e-mail, is a recipe for disaster for organisations."
The Radicati Group’s latest study, 'Instant Messaging Market, 2006-2010,' provides a look at all segments of the IM market, including, Public IM, Enterprise IM, IM Management and Security, and IM Clients.
According to the study, IM is seeing strong uptake in the business world largely due to its immediacy of use. In addition IM’s presence functionality makes it easy for co-workers to 'find' each other online, thus providing a much-needed tool for group collaboration.
The study shows strong growth in IM use worldwide with the number of IM accounts growing from 995 million in 2006, to over 1.6 billion by 2010. The number of IM users is also expected to grow from 432 million in 2006, to 650 million in 2010. The Enterprise IM segment of the market is expected to reach USD 123 million in 2006, and grow to USD 282 million by 2010.
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