Akonix Releases `Unofficial Guide to IM for Executives'.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 29, 2004

Guide Educates and Informs Executives on How to Control, Embrace and

Integrate Business IM Use for Effective Real-Time Communications

Akonix Systems, Inc., the premier provider of business solutions for secure, managed and integrated multi-network enterprise instant messaging (IM), has published an executive guide designed to help CIOs understand IM and the benefits it brings to the workplace when properly managed and controlled.

According to Giga Information Group, 60% or more of mid- to large-sized organizations have some level of IM use, but 90% of them have no formal IT support for IM. In addition, employees are often logging onto public IM networks without permission and without protection from viruses and worms, corporate policy control or the ability to monitor and log conversations. Akonix's guide is aimed at CIOs and other senior executives, but it can also be useful to HR and legal managers in understanding the risks and benefits associated with IM use in an enterprise environment.

The guide addresses key concerns that organizations need to know about the use of IM within a corporate network in order to remove any potential risk. It focuses on three key elements, including controlling IM use, how to embrace it as a beneficial communications tool and the benefits of IM integration with enterprise applications.

"2004 is clearly the year that CIOs must take steps to manage IM use on their networks," said Paul Ritter, program manager of collaboration research at Yankee Group. "The adoption of IM in the business environment is increasing at a triple digit growth rate and much of this is employee driven with consumer IM clients. Akonix's guide is an instructive and beneficial tool, outlining many of the key issues that senior management everywhere need to consider."

"Akonix wanted to develop a useful resource to help executives better understand, manage and secure IM so it can be used as a powerful business tool rather than cause a serious threat to their company's productivity, security and reputation," said Francis Costello, CMO at Akonix. "Our experience shows that there is still confusion in the market in terms of how to best deal with the growth of IM, especially public IM networks. Our intent is to educate CIOs on the key issues and the critical steps to make the most of their corporate IM communications."

The guide is available for download at www.akonix.com/IM. In addition, Akonix hosts regular Webinars on the subject of IM in the enterprise. For more information, visit www.akonix.com

About Akonix

Akonix is the leading provider of enterprise-class business solutions for leveraging the power of multi-network enterprise instant messaging. Akonix's award-winning products leverage patent-pending core technology, an advanced IM application development platform, and certified strategic partnerships to deliver multi-network management, security, integration and compliance capabilities across all major IM systems, including America Online's AIM and ICQ, Microsoft's MSN, Yahoo!, Microsoft's Live Communications Server (LCS), Reuters Messaging, IBM/Lotus SameTime and Jabber.

More than 200 customers in Financial Services, Telecommunications, Energy, Technology, Healthcare and Entertainment depend on Akonix to manage, secure and enable IM for over 250,000 enterprise users. Akonix is the preferred IM management solution of some of the world's largest companies, including Cingular Wireless, Qualcomm, EMC and ING.

Akonix is widely recognized as the technology and market innovator with awards for its L7 Enterprise IM gateway from Network World, eWeek, SC Magazine, PC Magazine and UCSD Connect. Akonix is backed by leading venture capital firms Menlo Ventures, Mission Ventures, Palomar Ventures and Windward Ventures, who collectively manage over $3 billion in capital.

To enable secure and productive use of multi-network instant messaging in your organization, visit www.akonix.com for a free trial or to request more information.