14 DAY TRIAL // Communication is a key element in our society and the standards and means to transmit messages have diversified in the last decade very fast. Voice calls can be made directly from the computer and instant messaging has taken so many forms that the email is almost obsolete. For optimizing the work and the communication between the employees, companies have adopted the IM technology so that the messages travel fast and the issues and problems are made aware to the right people.
Here is a free solution for XMPP and Jabber networks. Pandion is a low-cost ($0) instant messenger that is designed for usability and standards compliance. I've been using it for some time now and to be frank, it is a hell of an application. Installing and using it is a cinch and all you have to do is make the necessary connection settings and you're done.
Of course, this messaging tool can be used both internally and externally as long as there is a server the users can connect to. If you go on the developer's page, you may find some public servers and use them to make new contacts. The online help menu available will also guide you step by step through creating an account and start using Pandion.
The interface is extremely easy to use and resembles Yahoo! Messenger as all the contacts are listed in groups and each of them displays the status and status message of the user. The user can resize the contacts window any way s/he sees fit. The groups can be collapsed or expanded, depending on your viewing needs. In my case, there are so many groups that I have to keep collapsed the ones I seldom contact.
The flexibility of the application goes as far as choosing conversation window backgrounds and a wide range of emoticons. Pandion is not plugin free and comes equipped with several such elements that allow you to get the latest news posted on BBC or search Google directly from the main window.
Adding contacts is very easy due to the Find or Add a Contact feature sported by the application. This way, after connecting yourself to the server, you can search the JUD (Jabber User Directory) for addresses of your friends or any other contact. JUD is a database with names and addresses. The user does not have to complete all the search fields available in the wizard. However, the number of results will reflect the accuracy of the query.
The settings of the software are very few but cover the most important aspects like auto away messages, creating a list of people you do not want to receive messages from, connection settings (file transfer portmap, server address, secure communication settings (TLS and SSL encryption management), login authentication and proxy server if any).
Privacy settings include saving the messages in a history archive and authorization requests. Sounds for messages arrivals, returning to online status and offline sounds are also available. The default files can be replaced with whatever the user wants, the only condition is the file to be a WAV, MP3 or WMA.
The chat window is also as simple as can be and the high flexibility of the application allows the user to choose from a set of emoticon styles. The categories are AIM, Apple iChat, Aqua, Chibi, Critters, Crystal, Gadu-Gadu, Gray Smiley set, ICQ, Invision board, etc, the total of sets reaching thirty different emoticon styles.
Message history for each contact is available under the File menu of the chat window. The developer preferred to keep the talking to more than one contact at once in order and the result is that all the chats will appear in the same window, the contacts being listed on the bottom line of the screen. This way you can talk to a multitude of people without crowding your desktop or the taskbar.
Sending file command is available under Actions menu together with the profile of the opened contact. The profile includes details about the person from the trivial ones like name, middle name and first name, email, phone number, to home address, business details and address.
In the plugins submenu, under Tools in the main application window (contact list), the user has the possibility of installing BBC, Google, Slashdot or Reversi plugins. BBC will keep you updated with the news posted on their website, Google offers the chance of looking for something directly from Pandion, Slashdot brings you news articles on different "nerd stuff that matter" while Reversi is a strategy board game for two players.
The Good
The application is extremely simple and very easy to use. There are no complicated functions available but it supplies very good options for instant messaging (avatar, status message, possibility of finding contacts from public servers, plugins, file sending, etc.).
Supports creating conferences and sending mass messages to all the contacts in the list or in a certain group.
Users with some knowledge on HTML and Java Script can create their own extensions.
The Bad
There is no "Buzz" option available. More plugins like changing the websites for reading news articles even by novices would be of great value.
The Truth
On my computer, the application worked absolutely fine, but some friends of mine complain about getting messages saying that X contact has removed you from the list, despite the fact that the certain contact did absolutely nothing. Now this would not be a big issue if the messages wouldn't appear daily and even twice or thrice a day. Looking for a solution for this matter ended with no result.
Here are some snapshots of the application in action:
