Looking for professional chat software

[HCHTech]

I have a small professional office customer with a single "front desk" computer and a single "back office" computer. They are physically far enough apart that they are looking for a text-only message application that will allow communication between the two. It's a therapist, so they don't want to just use the phone as that would unnecessarily interrupt sessions.

It needs to be as bulletproof as possible and not overkill. In the past, they had used MS Messenger (too cutsie) skype for business (overkill) and something called "Tonic" (worked ok, but wasn't reliable). Neither employee has much tech inclinations so I'm looking for stable and idiot-proof. Suggestions?

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Years ago, I had seen a program called BorgChat mentioned on quite a few similar posts...and some techs reported back that they tried it for their client and it worked out well.
I took a quick Google just a minute ago to see if it's still around...and it is. I don't recall it being from some developer in Romania...but at appears it is (based on the home page).

Tonic and BeeBeep were a couple of others. Just going by memory of old posts in various forums, have no experience with them myself.

 

[Bootman 650]

http://lanmsngr.sourceforge.net/

 

[mrapoc]

Slack is pretty cool

 

[ZenTree]

Along the lines of Slack but (personally I believe) a better interface: Fleep

 

[HCHTech]

Thanks everyone - I will check those out.

 

[altrenda]

Slack seems to be the platform of choice these days. There is an ecosystem springing up around their API with add ons and extensions.
And it's free.

 

[SprinterTech-WI]

we use spark... works great across 8 techs and office people and 3 locations

 

[SprinterTech-WI]

https://web.ciscospark.com/#/

 

[fencepost]

http://lanmsngr.sourceforge.net/

I've never used Bootman's suggestion, but for a small office like that it may be the best choice.

For a therapist (aka medical office) an outside service like Slack, etc. may actually be a problem.

We've set up OpenFire (Jabber) for folks in the past, but that's overkill for a 2-person office.

 

[Larry Mashburn]

What about google hangouts? Just another option. Don't know the HIPPA implications though.

 

[acscva]

A couple of peers have mentioned HipChat. www.hipchat.com

They have a free version and a paid version for more features.

 

[Teknyka]

I recommend looking into Trillian.

 

[Mainstay]

We use hipchat. Have also used Lync (now skype for business).

Am also interested in trying out googld hangouts as an electrician contractor we use couldn't stop raving over it.

 

[Tech in SC]

The therapist is likely subject to HIPAA. This will add some complexity to the problem. If the 2 employees NEVER communicate any of the 18 identifiable elements of PHI then they can use whatever platform they want. BUT... chances are they are communicating PHI from time to time, if not very frequently. Therefore, their options are far more limited. You have two choices; use a HIPAA compliant messaging platform or put something onsite to allow for messaging so that the messages never leave their own network. Of course all of the "normal" HIPAA privacy and security measures are in play as well.

 

[krtechsolutions]

Have used Openfire many times, it works great - http://www.igniterealtime.org/index.jsp

 

[fencepost]

My understanding based on recent listening is that if they're on one of the business versions of Office 365 then they can probably add Lync/Skype for Business and be ok as far as HIPAA due to BAA with Microsoft. There are likely (there'd better be!) other people on the forum who can better answer questions about Office 365 and HIPAA than I can.