Softros LAN Messenger 12.4

Overview

Softros LAN Messenger has been designed to offer a private messaging service that can be used by people who are sharing the same local area network. Usually this is on a work network or over a VPN connection where employees are able to access the corporate network from another location.

Groups can be created to ensure that departments can message each other, department heads can meet virtually, and committee meetings can go ahead without the usual interruptions. Messages can be sent that go out to groups but exclude certain people within the group. Messages can be dispatched to people who are known to not be logged into the Softros LAN Messenger system at the time but the messages get queued up and can be viewed once the person is back in the work LAN again.

All incoming and outgoing messages through are processed come with strong encryption to ensure that even messages that travel outside of the corporate network over VPN connections will be heavily encrypted so that if intercepted they cannot be read by an outside third party without the right digital credentials.

Installation

Requires Windows XP, Vista, 7 or 8 With the installation, first the language needs to be selected, then the licensing agreement and also details about the software need to be agreed to. About 21.3 MB of available disk space is needed to complete the installation. The user can choose the installation folder or accept the default one that is pre-selected for them.

Following installation, the setup package then offers to launch to messaging program.

Interface

The interface is a small long, slim chat window with the users added to the list and an indication about which users are currently online and which are not. Different groups are shown separately. Tiny icons at the top and bottom of the chat window lead to further options. 

Very small and unobtrusive chat interface.

Pros

• Send private messages over LAN, WAN and via VPN
• Avoid using a public messaging system like Skype and use an internal one instead for greater security
• Heavy encryption for sending and receiving messages
• Create groups of users and share messages with some or all of them in the group
• Send messages to people who are offline where they can collect them later
• Spell checker in multiple languages to protect from typos on wide broadcast public messages

Cons

None.

Conclusion

Excellent package for communicating in an encrypted manner with work colleagues across the organization on the LAN, WAN and through VPN connections.