Shared Spaces ... the Collaboration Advisor

News for Today, Jan 30

Top items of interest for the day:

• Samsung has acquired a license for the RIM BlackBerry Connect program, which enables them to add BlackBerry functionality to Samsung handsets, which can then connect back to a RIM BlackBerry Enterprise Server. Comment: Nokia is another licensee, although it hasn't done much with its license yet. RIM
• InfoWorld reports that some customers are concerned about the portability of Domino applications into Workplace, how add-ons will work with the Workplace environment, and the resources required to migrate to the new architecture. Others are delighted with the new approach. InfoWorld
• KnowledgeStorm reports that "centralized task management" has arrived ... and that it makes more sense than project team individuals tracking tasks independently. Comment: Hello? This has been important and do-able for years. KnowledgeStorm
• The Geographic Location/Privacy Working Group (GEOPRIV) at the IETF is considering how to link presence & availability information with geographic location data. IMPlanet
• iAnywhere is hosting a webcast on February 17, 2004, 12-1pm ET, to discuss how to extend Lotus Notes desktop information to remote users with wireless devices through the Pylon range of products. Registration
• InfoWorld and Goyal on the future of Lotus within IBM's On Demand vision. Key ideas: (a) there is a definite path that encompasses Notes and Workplace, (b) Notes is the key human interface to On Demand, (c) Lotus doesn't plan to be in the hosted services business, and (d) we're not scared of Oracle, (e) migrate to Lotus from Exchange due to security concerns with Exchange, platform independence with Lotus, and lower TCO, and (f) various other ideas. InfoWorld

News for Today, Jan 29

A few items of news for today:

• Orange, a European wireless carrier, expanded its use of Extended Systems' OneBridge Mobile Groupware Platform, for the delivery of wireless access to email and personal information. Supports the Orange SPV E200 and the Handspring Treo 600, for access to Lotus Domino and Microsoft Exchange Server. Extended Systems
• Palm OS developers now have access to Version 5.4 of the Palm OS. New features: a standard API for handling virtual Graffiti writing areas, and a variety of other things. Brighthand
• Some US government agencies are embracing instant messaging for inter-agency and cross-agency collaboration. Jon Sakoda from IMlogic provides some insights. Government Computer News
• Starbucks Coffee Company is deploying the Plumtree Corporate Portal, Plumtree Collaboration Server, and Plumtree Search Server from Plumtree Software. "The employee portal, named the Starbucks Partner Portal because Starbucks refers to all employees as partners, bridges the regionally dispersed Starbucks locations with collaborative communities for sharing company promotions, initiatives, branding activities. Cross-functional productivity communities also empower virtual project teams or lines of business to collaborate with other Starbucks functional groups to aid in delivery of on-time projects." Plumtree

News for Today, Jan 28

Another busy day of happenings:

• LiveOffice released IMConferencing, an integrated application offering presence, IM, web conferencing, and audio conferencing. Target market is SMB. Enables users to start web and audio conferences from the contact list. Features: conference calling, application sharing, slide presentations, co-browsing, and file sharing. LiveOffice. Review by eWeek.
• PensEra announced TimeKM Mobile, a new component of its time and knowledge management system for lawyers. Enables lawyers who are away from the office to submit time records and knowledge updates via mobile devices, specifically the RIM BlackBerry, the GoodLink system, or combined data and mail smartphones, eg, the Treo 600. Available immediately. PensEra
• Extended Systems added capabilities to its OneBridge Mobile Solutions Platform so that remote users with mobile devices can access corporate information systems. Extended Systems
• iAnywhere Solutions announced a new version of Pylon Anywhere, its wireless messaging and collaboration platform. New features include push sync and alerting capabilities, expanded platform and device support, and better security. Available immediately. iAnywhere
• (From December) Jabber and Followap agreed to collaboration on server-to-server interoperability between XMPP/Jabber-based IM systems and the Followap platform for service providers. Jabber
• Flowfinity and mBiztech jointly announced a solution that enables users to input data into RIM BlackBerry handhelds that will then be submitted wirelessly into Lotus Notes and Domino applications. Flowfinity mBiztech

Some other matters of interest:

• Yet another company announced a rip-and-replace Exchange Server offering. BlueTie DirectConnect enables users to keep using Outlook but migrate their back-end messaging server to the BlueTie service. CNET News. Comment: why is it that 'everyone' targets Exchange for back-end replacement, instead of Notes and Domino? Is it that the stable of Domino applications that organization have prevent such an attack from working?
• Interwoven debuted a new document management system specifically targeted at corporate legal departments. Interwoven
• Lotus Workplace reviews: vnunet, eWeek, searchDomino, ComputerWorld, ePro, InfoWorld, Network World, and ComputerWorld.



• Norlight Telecommunications announced Guardian Meeting Center, a Web and audio conferencing service. Norlight
• FaceTime IM Auditor 4.5 includes anti-IM spam control features. FaceTime

News for Today, Jan 27

Lots going on today, mainly due to the Lotusphere announcements:

• IBM announced Version 6.5.1 of Lotus Notes/Domino at its annual Lotusphere conference. Key features: a Lotus Workplace-like interface (in other words, a single, consolidated interface of collaborative capabilities), integrated instant messaging and presence capabilities, and enhanced integration options for linking Microsoft Outlook with a Domino Server. Available later in 1Q2004. IBM also said that from now on, products in the extended family of Lotus software will be released in parallel. IBM Lotus. Screenshot
• IBM showed off the forthcoming rich client for the IBM Lotus Workplace Platform. The client is built using the open source Eclipse framework, and will support collaborative applications (email, IM, team workspaces), office productivity applications (word processing, spreadsheeting, etc), and custom business applications, among others. Will support a variety of platforms, including desktops and wireless/mobile devices. Current intention is for a 2Q2004 release date, although that may change. IBM Lotus
• IBM introduced new partnering programmes for IBM Lotus Workplace aimed at ISVs and business partners. The "ISV Advantage" programme offers technical enablement and go-to-market activities for ISVs focused on the small and medium sized business market, and is available immediately. A second ISV-focused programme, dubbed "Ready for IBM Lotus Workplace", enables ISVs to test their products against Lotus Workplace to ensure technical compatibility and compliance. Available end 1Q2004. Business partners can obtain technical and marketing support for Workplace activities. IBM Lotus
• IBM released an integrated portal and collaboration offering, called the IBM Software Solution for On Demand Workplace, an integrated bundle of IBM WebSphere and IBM Lotus Workplace. The product set includes Java-based email, team workspaces, instant messaging, presence and awareness, online learning, web content management, and portal services. Available immediately from US$399 per user, with the purchase of a minimum of 400 seats. IBM Lotus
• Wily Technology released a management platform for the IBM WebSphere Portal, dubbed the Wily Portal Manager 4.0. The objective is to enable WebSphere managers find and locate problems with the applications running on the portal. Key features: real-time monitoring, dashboards that summarize the overall health of the portal, tree views of portlet performance, among others. Available immediately. Wily Technology
• CASAHL Technology announced Version 8.1 of ecKnowledge, its business application integration software. New features enable the integration of Lotus Notes/Domino applications with Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server and the Microsoft Office System, via a wizard-based interface. CASAHL
• ... and a host of other announcements from IBM Business Partners.

News for Today, Jan 26

Items on my desk for today:

• Data Connection released Version 2.1 of MeetingServer, its web conferencing server for service providers. It is unclear precisely what new features are included in the release. Data Connection. Product information: meetingserver.com.
• Scalix Corporation released the Scalix Messaging Platform, a Linux-based messaging and calendaring server. Key features: support for BlackBerry devices (and the BlackBerry Enterprise Server), full-function support for Microsoft Outlook and other email clients, web access client with fast name resolution, and user authentication through external directories. Scalix. Architecture.
• Novell released the open beta of GroupWise 6.5 for Linux.
  Ship date is later in 1H2004. GroupWise provides email, calendaring, IM, contact management, document management, and workflow services. Key features: support for the Ximian Evolution email client, the GAIM instant messenger client, among others. Novell.
• A brief description of some tools to support geographically distributed development teams: email, IM, online workspaces, Wikis, Groove (should be under 'online workspaces'), and CodeWright. ADTmag.com

News for Today, Jan 23

Some interesting things off-the-bat today:

• Vignette continued on its acquisition spree, this time snapping up TOWER Technology, a records and document management company, for US$125 million. The three TOWER products will be incorporated into Vignette's product line, although a time frame for doing so wasn't disclosed. Vignette. Reviews by Internet News and Austin Business Journal.

• T-Mobile USA released a wireless IM service based on technology from OZ Communications. Users require handsets that are compatible with the Instant Messaging and Presence Services (IMPS) standard from the Open Mobile Alliance. infoSync
• XpertUniverse released version 2.0 of XpertSHARE, its software solution for the location of expertise and experts within an enterprise. Enables users to locate the right expert, and then route an enquiry directly to the expert. Target horizontals include customer care and support, training and professional development, and expertise exchange. XpertUniverse
• CRN reports that IBM will debut the "IBM Software Solution for On-Demand Workplace", according to a "source", that combines a J2EE-based application server, a portal server, and content management and collaboration capabilities. CRN. Comment: It's tradition for IBM Lotus to brief analysts on upcoming announcements under NDA, so someone obviously can't keep their mouth shut and their word intact.
• New Zealand's National Business Review reviews Microsoft's plans for 2004. Key areas of focus: good server growth, some upgrade movement to Office 2003, and team collaboration. Either the author didn't hear right, or the NZ country manager doesn't know the naming facts, but I've never heard of the Microsoft product called "Sharepoint Server Exchange 2003". NBR
• An analyst at Gartner expects the adoption of Office 2003 to still be in the single digits by the end of 2004. " ... upgrading is rarely a trivial task. New versions of the software often break other applications in the enterprise, and there is a lot of testing and fixing that always needs to be done with such a move." SearchWin2000.com

News for Today, Jan 22

Happenings of the day:

• Antepo released Antepo Open Presence Networks System 4.0, a SIP/SIMPLE and XMPP-based enterprise IM server. Key features: authentication and directory services integration for access control and a unified namespace, policy-based and regulatory controls, support for multi-server deployments, and standards-based integration support with third party IM servers. Includes support for Unix, Windows and Linux platforms. The client supports desktop and wireless device access. Available immediately. Antepo
• Raindance debuted a global voice-over-IP audio conferencing option for its integrated web and audio conferencing services. It claims the voice-over-IP option gives PSTN business-class voice quality. Raindance
• Akiva released Version 7.0 of WebBoard, its Web-based collaboration server. New features: blogging, support for inbound and outbound RSS/XML feeds, calendaring, polling, message ratings, and a SOAP web services interface. Available immediately. Akiva
• Good Technology launched a channel partner program, aimed at broadening its ability to sell and market its wireless messaging server and services. Includes various levels of partnering, each with associated benefits covering sales and marketing support, technical enablement, etc. Good is playing second fiddle to RIM. Good Technology Comment: Good desparately needs to broaden the number of carrier relationships it has in the US and globally, where it is extremely far behind RIM.
• MessageVine announced a strategic partnership with InphoMatch, which will host and resell MessageVine's presence and IM solutions. Target market is carrier customers, and the InphoMatch service will include total carrier control of billing processes, user experience, and quality of service. InphoMatch provides carrier-grade SMS infrastructure and cross-carrier network SMS gateways. MessageVine InphoMatch
• IBM introduced the "Windows NT-to-Linux-Migration Program", aimed at helping customers migrate away from the "legacy" Microsoft Windows NT operating system to Linux. The program includes enablement for business partners (training, education), Exchange to Domino-on-Linux migration options, and SQL Server to DB2 Universal Database migration tools, among others. IBM Comment: Talk about hitting the competitor where it hurts!

News for Today, Jan 21

A couple of interesting things today:

• An IT company is working in stealth mode on a software to detect the use of fudged prohibited words in IM transcripts. For example, if "Company Confidential" is prohibited to be sent via IM, someone can get around it by typing "Compamy Comfidential". The new software would detect, and block, such efforts. PersonnelToday
• ENTMAG.com profiled Stalker Software Communigate Pro and Bynari's email server as alternatives to Microsoft Exchange Server but without ripping-and-replacing the Outlook client, which many in the world love. Key benefits: saved costs due to lower TCO, saved effort since Active Directory doesn't have to be installed and configured, and support for non-Windows platforms. ENTMAG
• ePeople released Version 5.1 of ePeople Teamwork, its teaming platform for sales, service and support workers. The key new feature is tight integration with Microsoft Outlook, which allows users to access their Teamwork team workspaces from within the Outlook interface. ePeople.
  Review by Network World.

News for Today, Jan 20

I'm travelling on business today, but did grab a few minutes to write up the happening of the day:

• Snerdware released Version 1.0 of Groupcal, a product for Mac OS X users that enables them to update Microsoft Exchange-based calendars from within Apple iCal. Does not require software to be installed on the Exchange Server. Snerdware

News for Today, Dec 18-24

After a delightful four week vacation with the family, I'm back. What a lot has been going on. Although it will take some days to catch up, here's the first instalment:

• Plumtree announced plans to offer offline/disconnected access to Plumtree applications, via a re-sale agreement with BackWeb for its Offline Access Server. The server is available in two editions, a Standard and an Enterprise offering. Plumtree. First customer is Boehringer Ingelheim.
• Deviant Technologies released InterIM Enterprise, an IM server appliance designed for enterprise deployments. Adds greater fault tolerance capabilities to the Small Business and Professional editions. Deviant
• Merant announced Meritage, a document management and version control system for Microsoft Office 2003 editions, enabling version control, parallel review, change rollback, and other capabiliies. Enables teams to maintain and manage multiple versions of Office documents. Also supports Office 2000 and XP. Merant. Review by Line56
• A market research firm, Vanson Bourne, found that "two-thirds of companies engage in document collaboration with up to five people .... most collaborative groups are constantly changing, precluding consistent processes for collaboration. These collaboration challenges, among others, can lead to significant productivity losses and increased risk of missed deadlines." Continuity Central
• ActiveBuddy changed its name to Conversagent, Inc., to reflect its current business focus and greater emphasis on winning corporate accounts. Conversagent
• RIM and PalmSource formalized their development relationship to jointly develop a software client that enables connectivity between a Palm OS-based device and the RIM BlackBerry Enterprise Server. The solution would enable customers to use wireless Palm devices for receiving real-time email delivery and sending capabilities, broadening RIM's appeal beyond its current single device type strategy. Target for delivery is 2H2004. RIM
• msmobiles.com claims that the RIM-beating "push technology" in Exchange Server 2003 and Windows Mobile 2003 is false; Exchange first generates an SMS message to the mobile to tell it to request messages. The big implication for organizations is the ongoing cost of paying for SMS message notifications from Exchange. msmobiles.com
• RIM posted excellent financial results, doubling its revenue year-over-year, and significantly increasing its profit result. It's stock price gained 50% fairly quickly. RIM