RE: How important is IM? was RE: How important is the PSTN

[James Smith <jsmith () PRESIDIO com>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Christopher J. Wolff [mailto:chris () bblabs com]
> Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2002 3:17 PM
> To: nanog () merit edu
> Subject: How important is IM? was RE: How important is the PSTN
>
> So my question for the group is, do chat programs (IM, IRC, 
> yahoo) serve a
> substantial network support purpose or are they more of a distraction,
> allowing staff to communicate with friends, relatives, 
> drifters, interlopers
> on company time?
>
> Regards,
> Christopher J. Wolff, VP CIO
> Broadband Laboratories
> http://www.bblabs.com

It also allows other employees to ask/answer quick questions, have an
impromptu engineering con-call (with hard copy!) without having to get
someone to approve the cost, provide a support channel for customers (ever
try to talk a dyslexic through a command line config? cut-paste is your
friend...), and several other things that we find useful.

  In fact, every engineer in the company is told to get a hotmail account
and load MSN Messenger when they come on board. 

  IMHO, abuse of company resources should be handled in HR, not IT. 

  Tools don't waste time, people waste time...

James H. Smith II NNCDS NNCSE
First Call Response Center
Professional Services - Network Engineer
The Presidio Corporation