New Software Combines IM, Web Conferencing, File Sharing

It's hard to decide if Convoq's new ASAP Express looks more like an instant messaging or a web conferencing product because it embodies some of the best features of both. Starting with a buddy list, moving right on through embedded and shareable presence technology, and right into text messaging, it looks like a superb instant messenger.

But then you add in video, audio, and shared files, shared applications, including Powerpoint, and you have a web conferencing service. The difference here is that ASAP Express is limited to conferencing between two people, or two sites.

At Demo@15 Convoq vice president of marketing Kim Shaw demonstrated a conference with his home office in Boston, one with a member of the audience, who just happened to have the software installed, and a colleague on stage who spent about three minutes installing the software. It takes only a little effort to import contact information from existing instant messaging, e-mail and other applications.

The product does require that software installation, but the few minutes it takes to install is the only cost to a user, other than that the product is free. "We want to show people just how easy web conferencing can be", said Shaw. Convoq is better known as a provider of large-scale, presence-oriented web conferencing system called ASAP Professional.

The dynamic presence link can be copied and pasted just about anywhere. If you send it to colleagues in the Convoq ASAP Express buddy list, they will be able to determine if you are at your computer and available for conferencing.

The system is easy to use, very suitable for small businesses and even for enterprise conferencing on a small scale where instant messaging has been used in the past. It is available at no cost by visiting www.convoq.com.