IBM is to integrate auditing and compliance software from FaceTime Communications into its Lotus Software instant messaging (IM) service, Sametime.
The integrated offering enables business users to apply FaceTime's IM Auditor software to centrally manage, capture, store and supervise internal and external IM communications on the Sametime network for regulatory compliance.
Reflecting the rise in popularity of instant messaging applications, IBM says Lotus Sametime is now in use at 50 Global Fortune 100 companies and has approximately 5 million worldwide corporate users.
The IM Auditor Gateway for Lotus Sametime is available from FaceTime as an add-on option and will be available at the end of the month. The package enables IT departments to install a back-end software server behind their Internet firewall in order to manage and monitor instant messaging communication across all IM networks.