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NotePage said that because its Trusted Messenger tool only ran on a company's internal network, the content of instant messages sent between employees can not be intercepted by people outside the business.
If effective, the product could prove with popular with businesses who have seen the rise of instant message use by employees in the last year matched by an increase in security flaws in such systems. Microsoft, for instance, recently issued a "critical" security update after the discovery of a vulnerability that allows attackers to execute malicious code against MSN Messenger.
Indeed, many security experts have warned that IM systems leave businesses vulnerable to hacks, as well as viruses.
According to security software company Internet Security Systems, instant messaging applications will be the next target for malicious codes and viruses. It also warned that anyone can intercept and read IM chats if a corporate firewall is not in place because most IM applications do not use a secure layer for such messages.
Such concerns have promoted security company Symantec to include instant messaging scanning features in the latest version of its anti-virus software. Norton Antivirus 2003, which is aimed at consumers and SMEs, will scan files transferred over instant messaging applications for viruses, Trojan Horses and worms.
It is estimated that around 200 million people globally used IM systems last year and that number is expected to grow to 300 million by 2005.
Another application that might catch the eye of IT and HR managers is Pearl Software's Global Internet Management Software, which, according to its developers, allows companies to monitor public IM use by employees. The software is designed to dissuaded workers from using IM for unauthorised personal communications or for sending information to people outside the company.
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