Shelley Solheim

Vying to compete with the likes of instant messaging veterans America Online Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo Inc., Google Inc. Wednesday launched its own IM service with voice-over-IP capabilities. Unlike AOLs, Yahoos and Microsofts consumer IM offerings, Google Talk Beta is based on open standards, so users can send text messages to users of services […]

As virtual meetings become increasingly popular in the enterprise, collaboration vendors are working hard to improve the usability of their Web conferencing offerings. Web conferencing and instant messaging vendor WiredRed Software Corp. next week will launch a new version of its E/pop Web Conferencing tool, while storage giant EMC Corp. has just rolled out a […]

As Oracle Corp. prepares to launch the long-delayed update to its Collaboration Suite, early testers of the 10g version say that the package could find a strong support base in a market still dominated by IBM Lotus Software and Microsoft Corp. The suite, set to launch at months end, includes new content management capabilities, instant […]

IBM has announced plans to extend Linux support for its collaboration tools and to release to the open-source community its framework for searching unstructured data. Continuing its push to woo small businesses into adopting its portal-based Workplace Services Express team collaboration offering, IBM teamed up with Red Hat Inc. to make it easier for SMBs […]

Microsoft Corp. continues to woo top Lotus software developers to its ranks. Among its most recent hires are two former Lotus developers, Julio Estrada, who joined Redmonds ranks in June as software architect in the Exchange Server Group; and Bob Congdon, hired in July as an Exchange design engineer also in the Exchange Server Group, […]

Web conferencing application provider WebEx Communications Inc. is expanding its reach to smaller businesses with its $45 million cash acquisition of Intranets.com Inc. Both vendors sell collaboration tools via the software-as-a-service model, where users require only a Web browser. Intranets.com provides collaboration tools such as document sharing, calendaring and discussion forums on a monthly subscription […]

As they struggle to comply with privacy and security regulations and to prevent insiders from leaking confidential data, some enterprises are seeking to monitor messaging streams beyond corporate e-mail. To fill that need, messaging security software developer Proofpoint Inc., best known for its anti-spam tools, this week will debut its Network Content Sentry as an […]

Application service provider ViewCentral Inc. this week launched the next version of its namesake collaboration management tool for managing online training and marketing events. ViewCentral 5.0 adds new event pricing and packaging features. For example, users can now bundle events together and offer discounts to registrants who sign up for multiple events; display multiple prices […]

Building on its content management and collaboration strategy, Oracle has acquired assets from content integration software developer Context Media Inc. In addition to acquiring Context Medias enterprise content integration technology, some of Context Medias engineering team and other employees will also be moving over to Oracle Corp. Oracle would not say how many employees will […]

Avaya Inc. will kick off the SpeechTek conference in New York this week with the launch of the companys new IP-based speech self-service software. Avayas Voice Portal supports Web services in an SOA (service-oriented architecture), allowing IT to reuse software components and applications, said Eileen Rudden, vice president and general manager for Avayas communications applications […]

Forms processing is a big job in the insurance industry, and many companies are increasingly looking for ways to streamline antiquated systems. To automate the generation and distribution of the numerous forms and letters required for processing claims, property and casualty insurance giants CNA Financial Corp. and Safeco Insurance turned to Adobe Systems Inc.s Intelligent […]

Messaging security software developer Proofpoint has teamed up with Voltage Security to integrate encryption capabilities into its Proofpoint Protection Server software and Messaging Security Gateway appliance. The new Proofpoint Secure Messaging Module, when used in conjunction with Proofpoints Digital Asset Security modules, allows IT administrators to set policies to encrypt structured and unstructured data in […]