Imici Promotes Through internet.com

Enterprise instant-messaging developer Imici said it has entered into a one-year promotion/revenue-sharing pact with internet.com.

Through the deal, Imici’s Business Messenger will be promoted throughout internet.com’s network of technology and business Web sites. In return, internet.com will get a cut of revenue generated from any account referred from an internet.com content site.

Visitors to the internet.com network of Web sites will have the opportunity to click through an Imici link and sign up for a 30-day free trial of the hosted instant messaging system, officials said.

While Imici usually offers revenue sharing through its Business Messenger Referral Program, the company said it customized its program for internet.com. “The internet.com audience includes corporate IT decision makers whose attention we seek,” said Imici Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder Dante Federighi. “The Commerce Partnership program at internet.com closely resembles our Referral Program, so the arrangement is a natural fit.”

Imici joins internet.com’s Commerce Partner program as the only featured provider of instant messaging systems, officials also said.

“We are pleased to form strategic alliances with leading companies such as Imici in order to leverage the power and value of our audience,” said INT Media Group Chairman and CEO Alan M. Meckler. “We’re confident that these commerce offerings will be well received by our communities of Internet industry and Internet technology professionals, just like our current partners’ products and services. We will continue to form strategic alliances with top-tier companies seeking to reach the most influential purchasers of Internet and computing products and services on the Web.”

Imici’s Business Messenger is secure, hosted instant messaging system that features central administration, as well as optional interoperability with America Online’s AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), ICQ, Yahoo Messenger and MSN Messenger. Imici’s product line includes secure hosted and server-based IM products, as well as custom private label solutions.

InstantMessagingPlanet is an internet.com site, in the company’s EarthWeb content channel. internet.com is a division of INT Media Group , which owns and operates a network of over 160 Web sites, nearly 250 e-mail newsletters, over 400 online discussion forums and more than 100 moderated e-mail discussion lists that monthly generate over 225 million page views. The company also produces nearly 40 offline conferences and trade shows on Internet and IT-specific topics that are aligned with its network of Web sites and e-mail newsletters. In addition, INT Media Research publishes research reports analyzing the worldwide Internet and information technologies sectors.

Bob Woods is the managing editor of InstantMessagingPlanet.