Shared Spaces ... the Collaboration Advisor

Conversations on the Web, Sep 30

Interesting conversations going on around the place:

• ZDNet on Zimbra. Dan and David profile Zimbra's open source communication and collaboration offering. They talk about the technical architecture, some of the market place challenges and opportunities, and elements that are currently missing. Between the Lines


• On C-Search. Reseller News NZ spoke with Colin Neale, the head of C-Search Limited, which has developed an enterprise search product for Notes and Domino shops. Colin recently wrote Extend the reach of your IWWCM search with C-Search at DominoPower. Reseller News


• Are You in IT? Thornton starts ponders how people in the IT profession should explain what they do. Computerworld

Shared Spaces Briefing, Sep 28

Today's highlights: JotSpot Live; SAP Invests in Socialtext; MindManager at 3i; Day Connectivity; Good supports Treo 700w; SEVEN Expands Carrier Relationships; MarketingCentral Real-Time Collaboration; 3 day Showcase of IBM WCS 2.5;

• JotSpot released JotSpot Live, its Pillar 3 product offering. Enables multiple people to type into the same Web page at the same time, with changes displayed immediately for all participants. JotSpot


• SAP invested $850,000 in Socialtext. SiliconBeat


• 3i, a private equity and venture capital firm, is using Mindjet MindManager to provide a global overview of its venture capital activities. The map enables 3i's teams to see relationships and links between investments. SourceWire


• Day Software announced a new product line of standardized content connectors for other-vendor content repositories. The first product is for Documentum, enabling access to content in the Documentum repository through the JSR170 API. BusinessWire


• Good Technology announced that its GoodLink wireless messaging and GoodAccess wireless applications platforms will support the forthcoming line of Palm Treo smartphones running Windows Mobile 5.0. Good


• SEVEN announced new carrier relationships for its wireless messaging offering in Asia Pacific (DTAC in Thailand, Far EasTone in Taiwan, and ePLDT in the Phillippines) and Russia (VimpelCom). SEVEN on Asia Pacific and SEVEN on Russia


• MarketingCentral added new document and copy collaboration functions to its on-demand marketing project management software. The new Pillar 3 capabilities enable online writing, editing, feedback, and approval collaboration, without having to resort to emailing documents here, there and everywhere. Comment: Good additions to the MarketingCentral offering. I think they should also look at integrating NextPage 2.0 into their offering package. prnewswire.com


• IBM is offering a free 3-day hosted account of its Workplace Collaboration Services 2.5. Provides access to messaging, team spaces, learning services, and document services. Available immediately. IBM developerWorks

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

Conversations on the Web, Sep 29

Interesting conversations going on around the place:

• Zimbra on "Why Email?". Scott writes about why Zimbra has entered the email software market, starting with the major pain he experienced in dealing with email using traditional software products. Comment: Good stage setting Scott. I agree there are outstanding pain points to be addressed. Would love to discuss the broader concept of Collaboration Software Clients with you guys sometime. Zimbra Blog


• Four Ways to Strengthen PMO. eProject outlines four ways to strengthen the Project Management Office (PMO) in organizations: #1, shift it outside of information services; #2, focus on methods, processes and metrics; #3, provide on-demand access to the PMO system; and #4, don't overcomplicate the process with complex tools, the "way" that eProject sees itself offering significant value to companies that don't need the more expensive and complex PMO offerings. MarketWire

Does this mean the Mack Won?, Sep 28

I had to travel on business today. Apart from shutting my RoadWired bag (thanks for the idea Michael!), I'm packed and ready to go. Does this mean that the Mack won?

Conversations around the Web, Sep 27

Interesting conversations going on around the place:

• When Small is Better. QSM Associates, a consulting firm focused on software development practices, released a report that highlights the benefits of small software development teams compared to larger ones. QSMA found that smaller teams are more effective, releasing projects faster, cheaper, better. Integrated Marketing


• Virtual Meeting Etiquette. Computerworld highlights effective use of virtual meeting offerings, including the benefits of shared whiteboarding and shared applications. Highlights from the use of virtual meetings at Countrywide Financial Corp. are given. Key practices: (a) use shared applications to keep focus on the task at hand; (b) put more preparation into the meeting; (c) introduce all parties; and (d) choose your words carefully, among others. Computerworld

Shared Spaces Briefing, Sep 27

Today's highlights: Microsoft and Palm; New customer for PTC; Intellisync Unified Messaging; Apptix Adds to Management Team;

• Microsoft and Palm announced a licensing deal, for Windows Mobile 5.0 to power a forthcoming Palm Treo. The Treo 700w, available in 1Q2006, will initially run exclusively on the Verizon Wireless CDMA network. Palm says the key driver is to make the Treo hardware more attractive to enterprise IT. Palm US, with coverage at Computerworld, Pocket PC Thoughts, and CIO Today


• PTC announced that Airbus is using its collaborative product development environment for developing order-specific variants of the Airbus A380 aircraft. Customers are able to link directly into the Airbus PTC system. BusinessWire


• Intellisync introduced Intellisync Unified Messaging for mobile devices, a single interface to email, voice mail, text messages and instant messaging. IM support is available immediately for AOL, Google, Jabber, ICQ, MSN Messenger and Yahoo Messenger, with IBM Lotus Sametime and Microsoft LCS support coming. Presence is also integrated into the display, enabling users to know when colleagues and customers are available. Intellisync Unified Messaging is available for Palm OS, Microsoft Windows Mobile, Symbian OS and BREW-based devices. Available November 2005. Intellisync



• Apptix, a provider of on-demand messaging and collaboration managed solutions for the SME market, added three people to its management team. The new VPs of marketing, channel sales and business development, and web sales, will work to expand the company's global footprint. prnewswire.com

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

Shared Spaces Briefing, Sep 26

Today's highlights: Palm, Microsoft and Verizon; SCO Me. Inc.; AirSet Mobile Client;

• Palm, Microsoft and Verizon Wireless are holding a press conference at 9am on Monday September 26 in San Francisco. It is highly likely that Palm will announce a Microsoft Windows Mobile-powered Treo device. Palm, with discussions at BusinessWeek and Peter O'Kelly


• The SCO Group introduced Me Inc., a platform for mobile digital services. Integrates mobile devices with enterprise resources through a Edge Processor. SCO


• Airena released AirSet, a Pillar 4 style offering for scheduling. Enables the sharing of calendar events, contacts and to-do items with other people, and pulls together calendared events for a single integrated view. Target market is SME and individuals. Available immediately. AirSet

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

Conversations on the Web, Sep 26

Interesting conversations going on around the place:

• 8 Decision Making Tools. Stuck on a decision? 43Folders outlines 8 decision making options. Obviously there are many more approaches ... 43Folders


• Stowe on Writely. Stowe reviews Writely, a joint writing and review Web service. Although he experienced some problems, he intends to "use Writely aggressively". Corante


• Five Mistakes that IT Managers Make with Linux. Joe writes about the five most common mistakes IT Managers make with Linux, including #1 Being Reactive instead of Proactive, and #4 Too Much Too Quickly. IT Manager's Journal


• Email - Victim of its own Success? Interesting review of the problems with email. No solutions given. AlwaysOn Network

Shared Spaces Briefing, Sep 23

Today's highlights: XO Office; Google Wants Partners; Consilient Clients for Nokia;

• CYIOS announced plans to release XO Office ("eXecutive Online Office"), a document, project and collaboration management platform for small and medium-sized businesses, by October 30. A browser-based system, XO Office brings email, projects, teams, meetings, files and notes together in an integrated office system. Available in beta. prnewswire.com



• Google launched Google Enterprise Professional, a formal partner program for solution providers and integrators. Aim is to help organizations open up corporate data stores, including data in Windows SharePoint Services, using Google search appliances. InformationWeek, InfoWorld


• Consilient launched push email clients for the Nokia 9500 and 9300 communicator devices, for connection with Oracle Collaboration Suite 10g. The client uses the open P-IMAP standard. The clients will be available shortly. Consilient

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

Thoughts on NextPage 2.0, Sep 22

Head over to Collaboration Loop to read my initial write up of NextPage 2.0, and the new Activity Center it introduces.