Another take on IM

We've been talking about companies to watch and here is another one. Cordant is a start-up focused on instant messaging (the company is currently operating in stealth mode out of Bellevue, Wash.). Sonu Aggarwal, a pioneer in the instant messaging industry, founded the company after leaving Microsoft where he was lead program manager for Exchange instant messaging. He had earlier co-founded Flash Communications, which was acquired by Microsoft to form the basis of Microsoft Exchange's instant messaging capability.

Cordant is pursuing a vision that, in my opinion, could make IM the new killer application and one that could dramatically increase adoption of IM functionality in the enterprise. Cordant's offering, which is built around patent-pending technology, is aimed at the enterprise market and could have an important impact on the enterprise customer service industry. It has the potential to reduce customer service costs and improve the customer service experience for end users. Cordant plans a Fall 2002 release for this offering.

Cordant's first product is IMScribe, a platform that permits logging and archiving capability in the Exchange IM system. Because logging is a critical component for many customers due to SEC and other requirements, the adoption of Exchange IM has been slowed because of the server's inability to maintain a record of IM sessions. IMScribe is currently in beta and will be released by next month. Another Cordant product, scheduled for release early next year, will permit enterprises to better connect to external IM users. Details about the product cannot be disclosed.

Michael D. Osterman is the principal of Osterman Research, a market research firm that helps organizations understand the markets for messaging, directory and related products and services. He can be reached by clicking here.

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