Intraspect Looking To Fill Lotus, Microsoft Gaps

Intraspect Software Inc. has enhanced its collaboration management software with integration and performance improvements.

Intraspect 5, which was announced this week at the Gartner Symposium/ITxpo in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., adds support for Java 2 Enterprise Edition and for Oracle Corp.s namesake database and Microsoft Corp.s SQL Server database. Previous versions used only an embedded proprietary database.

Even as Lotus Development Corp. and Microsoft Corp. position their respective messaging platforms—Notes/Domino and Exchange—as development environments for building collaborative applications, some organizations are turning to applications from independent developers like Intraspect to meet their collaborative needs.

KPMG Consulting, in Radnor, Pa., is a large Exchange shop but is using Intraspect software for sharing of information and files, communications, modification of workflow processes and other project management tasks for work groups that tend to be scattered at remote locations.

“Its more robust than Exchange in terms of supporting large numbers of files, providing Web access and a bundle of custom-tailored applications to your business. Its a better fit for us than something with primarily messaging at its core,” said Ed Courtney, KPMG managing director.

Intraspect 5s support for relational database technology makes it a better fit in most IT environments, Courtney added. “You can scale the applications more easily. Its a big advantage,” he said.

Courtney also said that the separation of the user interface layer from the functional layer in this version makes customization of the application easier, since changes made once can take effect throughout the application.

Yet not all organizations may require a separate collaboration application like Intraspect. Courtney said professional services companies like KPMG Consulting are particularly suitable.

“Companies whose primary business is providing professional services are one of the best target markets for them,” he said. “Anything thats heavily project-based and task-focused, with people spread out all over the world, this type of technology is a good fit for.”

Dennis Callaghan covers collaboration and can be contacted at dennis_callaghan@ziffdavis.com.