SoapBox, the enterprise instant messaging product from Orangevale startup Coversant was reviewed yesterday in an InfoWorld blog.

Coversant has some pretty stiff competition including Microsoft, IBM, and Jabber, not to mention open source products and other startups like FaceTime. InfoWorld compared SoapBox to the offerings from Microsoft, IBM, and Jabber and found Coversant’s product to be faster, cheaper, and easier to use. Quite a coup.

Coversant’s software allows companies to offer XMPP (Jabber) instant messaging to their employees. The services can be integrated into existing environments by using directory services like LDAP or Active Directory for authentication. A management console provides configurable security and user roles, and all messages can be logged for regulatory compliance.

SoapBox was also the subject of an article yesterday on Instant Messaging Planet. IM Planet’s article reads more like a regurgitated press kit, but it provides a quick overview of Coversant’s products and pricing without needing to wade through the company’s marketing materials.