Thomson Reuters launches instant messaging hub

Thomson Reuters has partnered with three instant messaging providers to launch a global instant messaging hub for corporate users.

Reuters Messaging Interchange connects Thomson Reuters with Microsoft LCS/OCS, Cisco Jabber XCP and IBM Lotus's Sametime to allow users of these different platforms to communicate with each other.

Through Reuters Messaging Interchange users will be able to connect and communicate with over 130,000 end-users in 5,000 companies. Users can also add business contacts to a global external community.

"Over the last few years instant messaging has matured and become the nerve system of many financial institutions to conduct business decisions, progressively replacing email," said David Gurle, global head of collaboration services at Thomson Reuters.

Corporate instant messaging deployments have not yet reached their full potential, enabling users to reach their counterparts and customers in other organisations.