Staying connected is key to delivering outrageous results.
It’s not that you can’t unplug. It’s that you can choose when and where you want to connect.
Instant messaging is a great way to do that.
Instant messaging has grown up from late-night chatroom to being key to making inexpensive international business calls. It’s a quick way to get answers from technical teams back at headquarters and a great way to keeep in touch with customer requests. But it has it’s drawbacks.
Usually you have to be in front of your computer to message someone. And you have to download and run different programs to run all your different platforms. Skype, GTalk, Yahoo, Window’s Messenger – since they all have different limitations, you probably use several of these services.
Recently, a crop of multi-service platforms have emerged with a new twist:
Connecting all your instant messaging platforms on your desktop, your mobile devices, and the web…
You start your conversation on your desktop. Then stroll out of the office and continue the dialogue on your phone. Once you get to your client’s office you jump on a web browser and confirm all the details. Your conversation continues everywhere you go.
- Trillian [link] — Trillian was the earliest platform to offer a single platform for managing multiple instant messaging services. Their online Trillian.IM web messaging platform look sleek, but it’s still rough around the edges if you’re a MAC user.
- Nimbuzz [link] – Does a lot of the same functions that the other platforms do but looks less sexy. They have lo’s of mobile applications to offer you though and more services to engage on that Trillian. Nothing is pretty though.
- Meebo [link] – Brings the most messaging platforms to your desktop. Lots of international platforms that are not popular in the U.S. Their mobile apps look delicious, but the online platform needs a new coat of paint.
And my new favorite platform is a platform called IM Plus from Shape Services.
They just recently released their only web messaging platform called PLUS.IM which is completely free for anyone to use.
It’s super simple and looks beautiful.
And if you are looking closing at that screenshot you’ll notice another huge differentiator that makes this my favorite all-around instant messaging platform.
Skype is included as one of the services across mobile, desktop, and web platforms.
No other platform does that.
And their mobile applications are the most powerful that I have seen.
They not only include Skype as part of all services offered, they offer Twitter and Facebook and push your notifications right to your inbox. If you use a Blackberry (like me), then the experience is even better.
As well, smart looking iPad and iPhone apps are especially impressive.
And if you are on Android, Windows Mobile, Palm, a simple flip-phone, or even Symbian (like Nokia), they have an application for you.
And since all your conversations are saved online, you can quickly review your history or continue your conversation later.
Talk about efficiency. This is the ultimate platform to keep you connected.
And when you’re connected better, you tend to have better conversations.
And that means better business.
