[Typo3-typo3org] Groupware solution helping instrument

[Jan-Hendrik Heuing [NF]]

> I wanted to get back to this, for a while now:
>
>> But anyway, finaly we do not want to get rid of Exchange, but see the
>> benefit of a webbased integrated solution with single-signon, so we 
>> combine
>> both. There still is a LOT of work, and concept grows every day, for sure
>> faster then development of it ;)
>
> I have been always very reluctant to making any kind of CRM, Groupware or
> PIM functionality as a webbased app. I just don't think it works for the
> users. This functionality was often associated with the
> ProjectManager-Extension, but that is a misconception of how projects work
> in practice. There the users need full integration with desk-top tools and
> intranet project hubs are serving a different purpose than primary
> information and planning.
> They also expect personal information to be local/client-side, they want 
> to
> use it when they are offline and they want it to be quicker than even an
> intranet can be.

Yes you are right. At least for the standard user. For me web makes sense in 
a few cases:
- As soon as you have communication between different companies, it's worth 
it, as there is no other alternative.
- As soon as you have people working on different places, where it might not 
be the most easy way to have VPN ready.
- And finaly: For any sort of application you deploy in no time ;)

> However, I think a perfect situation would be a server, that deploys
> functions as portlets, that can be either in the portal on the
> intranet/webbased, or tied into a rich client Eclipse-style. That would
> require parts of the data to be replicated on the local box and synched 
> when
> connected (much like notes), but I am convinced that there is no other way
> to bridge the gap between the "personal"-requirements of Groupware and the
> webbased alternative.

Notes is a very good example for that, especialy because synchronisation 
works VERY well, not like exchange and outlook. Domino server can also offer 
webbased access if you include that in your development as well. We used 
Domino / Notes for some time, and it had some great benefits. But finally we 
found it to be not as comfortable as Exchange/Outlook in some cases. It 
might have been possible to get notes doing those things, but that would 
mean a lot of custom development.

The drawback in this case again is, that clients would not have access to 
that straight away.

> After all i have never seen any one use an online calender, let alone a
> mail-app instead of a local PIM, but only additionally.

PIM?

> The quicker way, would be to simply use the intranet to display data from 
> a
> groupwware server like Exchange, but MS already does that with Sharepoint
> and there is not a chance in beating them in the field of integration.

Yes, and that does not only mean local mailboxes and subfolders, but also 
public folders and other things like CRM. For an intranet solution this is 
for sure the quicker way. At least until you have web based applications you 
can not easily integrate.

> There are some projects going in the first direction, like Haystack from
> Harvard and also Workplaces by IBM.
>
> Anyway, i wonder which concept will in the end manage to break down the
> barrier between personal information management and team-organisation.

There have been a few companies trying to connect workstation based 
applications. One of them is Kubi Software. They have this kubi client, 
which can be set up on top of Outlook and Notes. They communicate with each 
other and they do not belong on a central server like exchange. You can add 
individual workspaces for different projects. Another approach has been 
groove, which seems interesting, but I didn't like it that much. For those 
things, you need special software, licenses etc., which will be a problem if 
you commincate with clients this way.

For this reason I do not see a different way than web based if you 
communicate between companies. Like an extranet for clients.

Wrong? Other ideas?

>
> Another interesting attempt, would be to build an SyncML-Server into such 
> a
> T3-based hub, here is something to play with:
> http://nicolas.bougues.net/syncml/
> Horde has a SyncML-PHP class as well.

That's very limited in it features it seems. This would only be an option 
for local mailboxes, but I might be wrong...