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In brief: Microsoft wins instant-messaging patent

News
Oct 13, 20031 min
Enterprise Applications

Plus: Sigaba unleashes better authentication in e-mail app.

Microsoft has been awarded a patent for a feature in instant messaging that alerts a user when the person they are communicating with is inputting a message. The feature is present in instant-messaging services from Yahoo and AOL.

Microsoft’s patent could give the company a leg up in the instant-messaging market if it can enforce the patent and edge out competitors by exclusively offering the feature.

Office Live Communications Server 2003 is due to hit the market soon, while MSN Messenger claims more than 100 million users.

Secure messaging vendor Sigaba last week released Version 4.0 of Sigaba Secure E-mail. The software is highlighted by support for federated authentication and a lineup of authentication adapters including support for Lightweight Directory Access Protocol, Novell eDirectory, Microsoft Active Directory, Kerberos, RADIUS, NT4 LAN Manager and Lotus Domino.

Version 4.0 pricing starts at $50,000, which includes the Sigaba Gateway, Key and Authentication Services.