I'll keep publishing

Well after years using multi-protocol chat programs like Adium to access my Hotmail, Yahoo!, .Mac and Jabber accounts I’ve made the switch to a ‘pure’ XMPP (Jabber) chat client. At the moment that’s Psi as it’s multi-platform running on Mac, Windows and Linux.  I’ll be recommending it to clients when they sign up to our new hosted XMPP service ClearIM.

So you’re wondering if I’ve ditched my buddies on networks like MSN and Yahoo!, well no I haven’t. That’s because I’m using the Cleartext ClearIM service public IM gateways to connect to the ‘legacy’ networks that the big brands are still running. This means all my chat, whatever network it’s coming from or going to, is being routed via ClearIM, it’s being archived as well, online, isn’t that neat

With multi-protocol desktop clients you don’t get the benefit of single ‘pipe’ for IM that can add processes like archiving or content filtering, you’re tied to a desktop solution. This also means that I can run XMPP software like ProcessOne’s OneTeam on my iPhone, no need for a multi-protocol app or multiple apps to handle all my buddies when I’m mobile.

If you’re interested in how all this works or how you can get a similar setup contact me via the Cleartext web site or leave a comment here.

I used to wonder why companies would want to archive their email externally, given they’d almost certainly be charged a premium. That is until I got a call from a client needing help ‘fixing’ a tape archive that wasn’t restoring.

Of course, it’s all about media rotation, or not having to do it. Hosted archiving not only removes the tedium of having to backup and restore email archives, it removes the need to continually refresh the media archives are stored on.

We all know how difficult it is to find a floppy disk drive now, imagine digging out a 5 year old tape and wondering if there’s still a working rape drive to match!

No it makes sense, let your service provider handle the data and worry about backup, restore and media rotation. Just make sure the service is secure and that the search and retrieval works well.

Having used Basecamp for project managing client projects for a couple of years now I’ve decided to recommend it via their affiliate program;

Use this referral code: 6TJ4P239E or this url to sign-up to Basecamp saves me a few bucks on my account

http://basecamphq.com/?referrer=U6TJ4P239E

Don’t forget to signup for the affiliate program yourself!