BIOS: Technology Means Business

The new version of Messenger for Mac introduces tabbed viewing, a new approach for Mac customers who use instant messaging for work and for play.

The greatest benefit of the tabbed viewing is that it allows you to simultaneously access corporate and personal Messenger accounts and set a unique user status on each, while support for Microsoft's Office Live Communications Server 2005 enables enterprise customers to IM in a security-enhanced manner via the corporate tab with colleagues inside and out the network.

'Methods of communication and collaboration in the workplace have changed drastically in the last few years - particularly with IM becoming a common means of interoffice communication,' said Van Baker, vice president and research director for Gartner. 'An enterprise solution is needed to provide a true office collaboration tool rather than the typical 'buddy' IM we have seen in the past.'

Corporate messaging sessions run through Microsoft's Live Communications Server 2005 are contained within the corporate firewall and server-side session logging is enabled. Corporate customers can also deploy the Live Communications Server 2005 Public IM Connectivity license, enabling their Mac users to IM with contacts outside the network who use services from AOL, MSN and Yahoo! Live.

Communications Server 2005 support also introduces integration with the Global Address List, allowing corporate Mac users to locate contact information and availability status more efficiently.

Home users should also dig the Mac OS-like brushed-metal look and feel in addition to a refined Preferences pane. Version 5.0 also includes new features that allow you to develop your online personalities with customisable display pictures and the ability to view animated and custom emoticons.

Microsoft's Messenger for Mac 5.0 is available now in English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish and Swedish. You can download it for free at http://www.microsoft.com/mac.