Novell and AOL unveil enterprise-wide instant messaging

NEWS Novell and AOL have released an instant messaging service for corporations. Called Instantme, Novell claims the product will extend the scope of instant messaging across enterprise systems. The product is based on AOL's Instant Messenger service, and lets mobile workers access users' directories and addresses over the Internet. Novell is currently developing a secure version of the service - utilising encryption and digital certificates - which it said will be available in the second quarter of this year. The service is available over Microsoft Windows 98, NT and 2000 platforms, and is downloadable from Novell's Web site The announcement is part of a raft of services from Novell announced at its Brainshare 2000 user conference.