Shared Spaces Briefing, Aug 2

Today's highlights: Central Desktop Pre-Release; IBM and Avaya; Scalix Wireless Email; Dell's Exchange Migration Program; WebEx Acquires Intranets.net;

• CentralDesktop moved into Pre-Release mode, for its name-sake collaborative workspace offering. CentralDesktop integrates wiki-style open editing and page creation with consolidated tasks, project files, and calendared items. Registration is free and open to all in advance of the September 1 official launch. CentralDesktop Blog



• IBM and Avaya announced an agreement for the integration of Avaya's audio-based communication technologies with IBM's email, Web conferencing, and instant messaging platforms. Key capabilities: click-to-call within email and IM, and integrated audio capabilities in Web conferences, the latter of which sees an integration between Avaya Meeting Exchange and IBM Lotus Web Conferencing. IM integration due 4Q2005, and Notes/Domino integration due in 1Q2006. Workplace integration due in 2006. IBM


• Scalix Corporation, a provider of a Linux-based email server, announced the Scalix Wireless Solution, for providing wireless access and synchronization of email, calendar, address book and PIM data to BlackBerry, Palm OS, and Windows Mobile PDAs across multiple wireless networks. The Wireless Solution was developed in conjunction with Notify Technology. Availability not disclosed. Comment: Kudos to Scalix for the release of a Wireless Solution. Wireless email is an important roadmap issue for all organizations, and a current mandate for many. Scalix


• Dell unveiled a Microsoft Exchange Migration Program, to enable Exchange 5.5 customers to migrate to Exchange Server 2003. Includes a pre-configured server, storage and software packages, and professional migration services. Comment: A "migration package"? I thought a version-to-version change was generally called an "upgrade". Dell


• WebEx Communications acquired Intranets.com, a provider of hosted collaboration applications for small and medium-sized businesses. Its services include secure document sharing, group scheduling, task management, database applications, discussion forums, and contact direcories. Comment: Double wow! (a) This is great news and validation for the Intranets.com team. They've put in the hard yards, and this is a good result for them. (b) I discussed this very dynamic with the VP Strategy from WebEx at CTC in June in NY. At that time he said, "we don't want to compete with our customers", but that was either obfuscation of discussions going on, or a prompt to look at it! WebEx

This Briefing was written by Michael Sampson, of Shared Spaces Research & Consulting Ltd. Email or IM Michael to discuss any of these items further.

Comments

[Brian Hoogendam]

Michael - interesting move for WebEx - i think it is hedging against the coming onslaught of marketing around the new MS Sharepoint offering that is coming our way. I think this was both a defensive and offensive move for WebEx - what are your thoughts?