It's Not Just IM Any More: Talk, Collaborate, Share, Leave Video Messages

IM is expanding in unexpected ways. Two unique services, InterComm and Sightspeed, which we used to refer to as "instant messaging" and "video instant messaging" services, respectively, introduce new versions today. And these provide more than a text bar and a full menu of emoticons.

InterComm 1.1 adds RSS feeds to this workgroup IM/file-sharing service from Five Across. The RSS function is in both the free and the $29 Pro version. InterComm's selective presence capability--the ability to appear available to some contacts and invisible to others--certainly sounded like the killer app for IM when version 1.0 hit the Web in August. But Five Across CEO Glenn Reid says that anecdotal evidence suggests that "integrated file sharing has turned out to be [InterComm's] killer app." Five Across is also introducing the Five Across Workgroup server, which allows businesses to log their IMs and keep their files on their own server starting at $3,490 for 20 users.

SightSpeed 3.0 (formerly SightSpeed Video Messenger) launches today with new video message, video mail, and multiparty functions. The new interface combines online and offline contacts; if your buddy isn't available for a video conferencing session, you can click their ID and leave them a video message "just like leaving a voice mail," says Aron Rosenberg, SightSpeed's Chief Technology Officer. Sending video mail is more like sending e-mail. You record an MPEG message and forward it to your contacts. These features are available in varying amounts in all four plans from Basic free plan to the $55/month ($550/year) Professional Plan.



Multiparty video conferencing is the most eagerly anticipated new SightSpeed feature. As you see in the interface example here, up to four different callers on different PCs appear in the same window. Not every participant needs a paid SightSpeed account, but the conference host needs to be on the $5/month ($50/year) Freedom plan to host 30 minutes of multi-party calling. Unlimited multi-party calling on the Multi-Freedom plan costs $15/month ($150/year).