I need suggestions on an inter-office messaging/bulletin board system for the network.

[blurredvision]

My boss today tasked me with figuring out some kind of network messaging/bulletin board system for the computers at work. Basically, he wants to be able to correspond with everyone at work without having to hunt them down (like what usually happens). It's not a big shop, but sometimes it can become a hassle to walk to the back, talk about something, walk back up front, then have to walk back to change something else.

It's really hard to explain, because I'm not quite sure what he wanting out of this myself. I first suggested a simple messaging program (MSN, yahoo, AIM), but I don't think we're quite wanting the limitation of just instant messenging. He's looking for not only instant messenging, but some type of bulletin board system to where he can post notes in a centralized place, and anyone at any computer can access it. It would also be helpful if this program could have a seperate board for each employee, so as to post notes to specific people.

I hope someone knows of some type of program that does this, as I'm sure there's something like it out there. It doesn't have to be freeware, but it can't be $300 a license either. Thanks for any insight into this.

 

[kd2777]

May first thought would be Post-it-notes. You could walk up to the persons computer and put a post it right where there AOL IM would be, that way they would have to read it before they jumped on their buddy list.

Second for the people with out a computer; a huge cork board with lots of thumb tacks.

kd

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: kd2777
May first thought would be Post-it-notes. You could walk up to the persons computer and put a post it right where there AOL IM would be, that way they would have to read it before they jumped on their buddy list.

Second for the people with out a computer; a huge cork board with lots of thumb tacks.

kd

Oddly, we do have a cork board AND post-it's at the office. I'll run this idea by him.

 

[n0cmonkey]

My first idea was email...

You could look at any one of the million different forum softwares out there, but I'm not sure any of them are all that good...

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
My first idea was email...

You could look at any one of the million different forum softwares out there, but I'm not sure any of them are all that good...

I didn't think of a forum setup. Damn, I just don't know. He's got a decent idea going, but implementing it to where all the employees would actually use it is a whole other issue in itself. I'm trying to think of something easy, possibly something that when a message was sent, and sense of urgency would be had in reading it. And the only way to get that is if it was apparent when the message would be received. A forum type software wouldn't be able to give me this, as it'd have to be checked every so often. However, instant messenging is paramount in this regard, as a window actually pops up, but it's easy closed out with no regard by someone else (we use each others computer in some instances).

Any suggestions on what I've added?

 

[Burn2619]

many years back win98/nt4 time I worked in an office like this. My boss also had the same ideas and he wanted something that could be looked back on if questions arose. So on a server I placed a program ( winpop98 or something like winpopip ) it's just an enhanced version of the windows version IE netsend;messager ect on the server and the clients. The one thing this program had was a constant running log that was saved and comments are date and timestamped. It had that pop up in your face IM like attention getting action and the log for looking back on. I'm not sure if this would work in your case but if I remember right it was free and worked well for us back then. If I can find a link to the same program I will post it.

Hope this helps.

 

[Aves]

There is always Microsoft Sharepoint. We use it at work and it's not the greatest but it's easy enough for managers to use.

 

[SoulAssassin]

Originally posted by: aves2k
There is always Microsoft Sharepoint. We use it at work and it's not the greatest but it's easy enough for managers to use.

exactly what I was about to recommend

 

[Relayer]

phone and email