Microsoft Readying Secure Corporate IM

I thought everyone was saying corporate IM was dead ;) OK. Probably not. Microsoft has been working for some time on its Live Communications Server (LCS). I'm still not sure why this will succeed where others have failed (aside from the shear girth of the gorilla), but here's what News.com had to say:

The Redmond, Wash., company said Tuesday that its Live Communications Server 2005 software will let companies encrypt their instant-messaging communications internally and link IM systems between companies so that suppliers and other business partners can share secure IM connections.

Additionally, Live Communications Server, or LCS, will include an option for letting companies link to public instant-messaging networks from Microsoft, America Online and Yahoo, so that employees can chat with users on the Big Three IM services.

Source: News.com, "Microsoft logs on to secure corporate IM"

I think one of the key features is the private-public interface. There have been many studies done that show that even in the Enterprise, public IM is king. Providing bridges makes sure people are interested in setting up alternative methods of contact. This is a much more comfortable route than the often used "Corporate IM Cockblock" (you know, the one where the Network Admin filteres all traffic leaving you with zero options).

Are you using an Enterprise IM system at work? Is it any good? What do you like about it? What do you despise?