WebProNews

The market for enterprise instant messaging applications saw 37 percent growth from 2004 to 2005, and should more than double by 2009.

Enterprises have a different level of IM needs than a typical user does. Security, centralized account management, and technical support have to be in place when a business makes instant messaging available to hundreds or thousands of employees.

To get those features, downloading the latest messaging client from a web portal site isn't the answer. Enterprises have been buying software to fill those needs. MediaPost cited a new IDC study on businesses and IM usage.

For 2005, businesses spending $315 million on messaging products represented a 37 percent boost from 2004. By 2009, IDC expects that spending to top $736 million. Usage will increase dramatically as well, the report noted:

Robert P. Mahowald, program director for IDC, said "With more than 28 million business users worldwide... sending nearly 1 billion messages each day in 2005, and many more crossover corporate consumers who use consumer instant messaging networks in the workplace, these products are clearly reaching more mainstream users. Especially in compliance-driven sectors like Wall Street, financial services, and government, instant messaging is a critical differentiator...

David Utter is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business. Email him here.