March 2008
Features
- Tech Talk 01 Get ready for a new release of GroupWise. Wanna busy search a client's calendar? Go for it. Want more panels on your home view? Track a couple of Web sites in your home view too. Take your pick of these and many more new features in the next release of GroupWise.
- Tech Talk 02 Upgrading from NetWare to the next generation of technology doesn't have to be painful—or costly. Take advantage of all the benefits Open Enterprise Server 2 offers for less and without the pain of retraining your staff. See how this migration path stacks up against moving to the big unknown—Windows Server 2008.
- Tech Talk 03 Try it just once and it'll be the last time you'll want to call support. It's faster, cheaper and unlimited. See how this new support option is going to change the way you want support from Novell.
- Tech Talk 04 Does your enterprise have legacy systems that won't talk to other computers? The hotel industry had that problem-until Novell stepped in. Now, using code that Novell open sourced, the hotel industry can use identity management solutions-on their legacy systems! See how you can teach your old systems to talk.
- Tech Talk 05 The word spin can have a negative connotation—unless it's PlateSpin. Read how Novell's acquisition of Toronto-based PlateSpin is going to give your data center several positive benefits. If you want your data center tasks to manage themselves, welcome to the new Novell technology from PlateSpin.
- Tech Talk 06 For beginners, databases can be frightening. But with a little help in building effective forms, you'll be on your way to populating a database that can almost take care of itself. See how here in our OpenOffice.org series cover the database application included in the free office suite.
- Tech Talk 07 If you're like most companies, your end users' teams are comprised of people across the globe. Yet they want to feel like their teammates are just down the hall. Enter Sitescape. It's now a part of Novell and provides the engine to the new Novell Teaming + Conferencing products. Find out how this recent acquisition benefits you.
Connection Magazine March full .pdf
Departments
- Proof Point Toll Brothers, the leading builder of luxury homes in the U.S., had issues. One was managing desktops across 300 locations, including construction site trailers across 22 states. Keeping them in standard, working order was quite a problem. See how Novell automated that, increased the security of sensitive financial data, and much more.
- Trend Talk Are you up on your backups? Are you a synthetic backer upper? What about your recovery objectives? How will you recover after the crisis strikes? Learn what types of backup and recovery procedures are available, so when the crisis strikes, you'll be up on your backups and know just how to recover.
- Laura Chappell Analysis Session: TCP Connection Loss
Here,
There, Everywhere
Making Collaboration Transparent
Tech Talk 7 by Ken Baker
Last Last month Novell announced the acquisition of SiteScape, a leading provider of team workspace, enterprise social software and real-time conferencing solutions. In case you didn’t know, in 2007 Novell began licensing SiteScape technology to create Novell Teaming + Conferencing.
Like any acquisition, this one has excited market watchers and created new opportunities for Novell and SiteScape customers alike. (See Benefits for Novell Customers and Benefits for SiteScape Customers.) But the big question is, “Why move from a licensing relationship to one of ownership?”
Of course there are multiple answers, with a main one being to strengthen the ability of Novell to deliver the flexible, next-generation collaboration environments organizations need.
But if you dig deeper, you’ll realize it’s much more than that. The acquisition of SiteScape puts Novell in a prime position to move forward with a broad plan to lead the way in Unified Communications from the team workspace perspective.
Understanding Unified Communications
The rate of communications innovation has grown exponentially in the last few years. Beginning in the 1980s with worldwide deregulation of the telephone industry, cell phones, overnight couriers, fax machines, cheap long distance, calling plans, cable television and many other innovations appeared. The 1990s brought the Internet, the World Wide Web and ubiquitous e-mail. And in the 21st Century, Web 2.0, or the collaborative Internet, has again changed the landscape with wikis, blogs, social networking Web sites and more.
While it's great to have so many choices, it can also be overwhelming. Do I send an e-mail or call the person? Should I call her cell or desk phone? Can I call him at home? Maybe an Instant Message is the way to go, or should I send a text message? Is he even online? Should I fax this document, send a hard copy using regular mail, attach a PDF to an e-mail, or all three? Should we do a Webcast or a conference call? Does he use Skype or some other free VoIP service?
In addition, all of these communication tools focus on devices
and networks primarily, and on people as a by-product. Business owners wonder about their PBX options. Does it have Interactive Voice Response? How many conference call bridges do I need? Even home consumers talk about communications via their technical setup. Is DSL or cable better? Should I install WiFi? Will my TV still work when my local affiliate goes digital next year?
The latest topic—one that shifts the focus from the means of communication to the ends—is Unified Communications. At its core, Unified Communications is a way to provide an integrated set of tools that help people share information in the best way, no matter where they are, what time it is, or with whom they need to communicate. It's about focusing on people and their communication needs rather than on devices and networks.
Of course, that’s the short definition. The long-term goal of Unified Communications is to provide the same rich and simple experience online as people are used to in face-to-face encounters. In some cases, it provides even more advantages than face-to-face contact. As Unified Communications tools are adopted, people will be able to share knowledge, convince others of a point of view, reach agreement, coordinate time and resources, educate, entertain, brainstorm new ideas, foster relationships and build human networks more effectively than ever before.
For example, the “integrated presence” in Novell Teaming + Conferencing allows you to instantly see if someone in a team workspace is online—that is, available for an online meeting or chat. It automatically forwards phone calls to an appropriate telephone number (cellular, land line or VoIP) when team members are out of the office or on the move. It tells you not only who is participating in a conference call or online meeting, but who is talking at any given time. And Novell Teaming + Conferencing integrates all of these forms of collaboration with a wide array of other collaboration tools in a way that allows you to get your message across in the easiest and most effective manner possible. In essence, it simplifies and elevates your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.(See Figure 1), (See Figure 2), and (See Figure 3)
Figure 1
Figures 1, 2 and 3: Novell Teaming + Conferencing supports extensive presence integration--a practical application of Unified Communications concepts that shift the focus from the means of communications to the ends.
Figure 2
Figures 1, 2 and 3: Novell Teaming + Conferencing supports extensive presence integration--a practical application of Unified Communications concepts that shift the focus from the means of communications to the ends.
Figure 3
Figures 1, 2 and 3: Novell Teaming + Conferencing supports extensive presence integration--a practical application of Unified Communications concepts that shift the focus from the means of communications to the ends.
Figure 4
Novell Offers the Powerful Core of a Unified Communications Solution.
