InfoWorld: New IM service for business users launched

Between the time I started writing this and now several things happened. First, Michael Sampson beat me to the punch. Second I look a couple of minutes and went to the website to take a look for myself.

The Five Across website
doesn't have too many details, but the application does look
impressive. The InfoWorld article doesn't do it justice. I
don't think they even mention the (important) fact that there is an OS
X version of the application! The PC World article is more flattering and does mention that there is a Mac version. Steve Boyd thinks the application falls short for him.

Myself I'll be downloading it in a couple of minutes. In my mind it has several things going for it:

• Windows and Mac support
• Pro
  version is the right price. At $29 a larger company can afford to
  cover the cost for a consultant or two without breaking a sweat.
  A consultant, like me, wouldn't need to much of an excuse to buy it
  (assuming I had clients using it or I saw enough value to recommend
  it). This is a great price point.
• The tools like file managing with version control look good from the surface
• It looks like it's getting some good buzz already

One important part I haven't seen and that I think is extremely
important these days is encryption. It it doesn't have
encryption, it should be added. It should be there from the
start, free or Pro. There is too much garbage around not to take
this important step.

To be fair, this is a v1 product. User feedback will be critical for them to succeed.

I
would like to test this for real, so if you're a reader and have my
real e-mail address. I should have the application downloaded and
installed soon.

InfoWorld: New IM service for business users launched: August 09, 2004: By : APPLICATIONS

Five
Across Inc. will launch an instant messaging (IM) product for business
users on Monday that the startup vendor hopes will be a workplace
alternative to free, consumer-oriented, public IM services and pricy
enterprise-class IM systems.