Vibrant MCSE BOOT Camp Notes :

Communication

There are many different means of communication in a legacy groupware system. Because of the high bandwidth, many means of communication that are being used or developed now for the Internet were first used in a legacy groupware WAN environment. One of the drawbacks is that you need different pieces of software for each function required for video-conferencing. In addition, basic communication with users outside the network is no easy task.

For example, most legacy groupware e-mail applications are great for communicating with other people within your network but are impossible to use to communicate with the rest of the world. An intranet provides a link for both internal (office-wide) and external (worldwide) e-mail, putting global resources at employees' fingertips. The Netscape-Collabra partnership, which combines the most popular Web browser with a groupware system, is one example of an intranet system providing both office-wide and worldwide communications. The e-mail client is based on open mail protocols such as SMTP, IMAP4, and POP3 and integrated with MAPI 1.0 e-mail clients such as Microsoft Exchange. Another Internet/intranet e-mail server is TeamWARE Mail 5.0, which combines global e-mail with the security and maintainability of an intranet messaging system.

E-mail on the intranet isn't the only path to outside communications, however. For organizations that operate an internal message board system, either on a BBS or using Lotus Notes or another legacy groupware package that allows individuals to post messages, an intranet makes it possible to open up one or more of those message boards to the outside world.

For example, if an organization wants to provide technical support to customers or would like feedback on new product innovations from consumers, it might open up one of its message boards to users outside the network. With traditional groupware this is not an option, but through intranet technology, it is not only possible, it is available today. One company utilizing this idea is Federal Express, which opened up its tracking database to the outside world to cut down customer support expense. Any consumer with a Web browser and a tracking number can find out where in the world his or her package is. Obviously, though, not all of FedEx database information is available to the public.

There also are audio- and video-based communications with typical legacy groupware systems. Video-conferencing was first used in a groupware environment. Now, audio- and video-conferencing applications are being built that can work easily over the Internet. A survey conducted by Collabra Share, summarized on its Web page (http://www.collabra.com/products/index.htm), indicates that electronic discussions through its product and Netscape are some of the most valuable uses of groupware products; conferencing enhances communication, allows off-site groups to work together, and increases teamwork.

Other conference servers provide a means to professional collaboration. ForeFront's RoundTable allows information-whether images, video, audio, or documents-to be seen by all members of a workgroup in real time, on a "canvas" put up on the Web.

These applications will become more widespread when hardware and software become less expensive. As bandwidth continues to increase and users are able to connect at higher rates of speed, audio- and video-conferencing with an intranet will become easier and more prevalent than with legacy groupware.

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