From: Rohit Khare (Rohit@KnowNow.com)
Date: Tue Oct 24 2000 - 11:19:46 PDT
Gee, bill, why isn't exchange+IE as exciting as this? Where's the
real-time XML pub/sub devkit from Redmond?
>"We're entering a new phase in the Internet. We need a new breed of
>software that goes beyond Web browsing to use the full power of the
>personal computer and ubiquitous Internet communications," said Bill
>Gates, Microsoft's chairman and chief software architect. "Ray has a
>history of building breakthrough applications. With Groove, he and
>his team have built a deep and innovative application that is a
>great example of where the Internet is going."
Amazing release list. Something to look forward to in life... in the
meantime, we'll puzzle out what the heck Peer-to-Web could possibly
mean :-)
Rohit
========================================================
Groove Networks Introduces First Software Platform To Enable
Peer-to-Peer Business Solutions and Personal Communications
Groove provides closer connections among individuals, flexible and
secure interaction among businesses, and platform for peer
applications
Beverly - October 24, 2000
Groove Networks Inc. today introduced the industry's first software
platform designed to host a broad range of peer computing
applications and business solutions, enabling new ways for
individuals to communicate with others via the Internet. The Preview
Edition of Groove is available immediately for free download at
http://www.groove.net
Ray Ozzie, who is best known for creating Lotus Notes, the groupware
product now used by more than 60 million people worldwide, founded
Groove Networks three years ago to create products that leverage the
two-way capabilities of the Internet for people who interact closely
with one another. The result is Groove, a software product for
individuals and businesses, as well as a complete set of tools and
services that developers can use to create new solutions and
integrate Groove with existing business systems.
Groove is based on a peer computing architecture, providing
communication among individuals via the Internet without the need for
a central server. This decentralized approach to computing gives
individuals the control, security and privacy they require, and
enables closely-knit groups to collaborate on a broad range of
activities within secure, shared virtual spaces, in real-time, or at
different times.
For individuals, Groove enables direct person-to-person multimedia
communications related to projects, meetings, events, and
relationships. For businesses, Groove's peer-to-peer and peer-to-Web
solutions provide secure, online working relationships with key
customers and partners, enabling individuals to respond in real time
to critical incidents and opportunities, and reduce time-to-decision
and time-to-resolution.
"We've developed Groove with one core purpose in mind: to strengthen
the online connections among people who need to interact closely with
one another - across all boundaries such as time, place, or
organizational affiliation," said Ray Ozzie, CEO of Groove Networks.
"Groove is a powerful peer computing platform that will dynamically
bring together the right people, the right information, and the right
tools, at the right time. Just as the Web browser has become the
means by which people interact with Web sites, Groove will
increasingly become the means by which people interact directly with
one another. Over time, we believe that most everyone who uses a PC
or network appliance to communicate over the Net will have three
primary tools: email, a browser, and Groove."
"Web computing defined the second half of the '90s; peer-to-peer
computing will be a significant paradigm of the first half of this
decade, and I look forward to working with Groove Networks to make it
happen," said Andrew Grove, chairman of Intel Corporation
"We're entering a new phase in the Internet. We need a new breed of
software that goes beyond Web browsing to use the full power of the
personal computer and ubiquitous Internet communications," said Bill
Gates, Microsoft's chairman and chief software architect. "Ray has a
history of building breakthrough applications. With Groove, he and
his team have built a deep and innovative application that is a great
example of where the Internet is going."
Groove's unique product features and architecture provide direct
benefits to three distinct groups:
Businesses
Groove is a secure peer computing application platform that augments
Web-based business systems, extending their reach to relevant groups
of employees, partners, and customers that need to work closely with
one another. When integrated with transaction, customer service,
sales force automation, knowledge management, or any other
centralized business system, Groove adds a "person-to-person
interaction layer" that extends far beyond what's possible with
today's Web technologies.
Because Groove fully supports standard data formats, protocols, APIs,
and development languages, businesses can easily integrate Groove
with their existing applications and systems. The company's Alliances
team already is working with systems integrators and third-party
developers who are taking advantage of the product's open and
extensible architecture to create customized peer-to-peer and hybrid
solutions. Groove Networks and its partners are focusing on solutions
for customer and partner relationship management, collaborative
commerce, and other areas where improved personal interaction leads
directly to increased speed and agility for the organization.
"We are excited to be working with Groove Networks in exploring how
its business solution platform will assist us in expanding and
enhancing the community experience we're seeking to create at
WalMart.com," said Jeanne Jackson, CEO of WalMart.com. "In the
short-term, we're obviously focused on ensuring the success of our
soon-to-be launched site for the holiday season. But we are very
impressed with the easy integration between the Groove platform and
our existing Web servers. We think this hybrid platform is a powerful
way for us to extend our brand to new customers, and strengthen our
bonds with existing customers."
"We are piloting the base Groove product and multiple toolsets from
Groove Networks, and are favorably impressed," said Leticia Vargas,
an information technology project manager for Abbott Laboratories.
"This model for small group interaction both within and beyond our
firewall will assist in helping us achieve our overall goals of
improving quality business communications and reducing time to market
for health care products that we develop, manufacture and market for
the treatment of some of the world's most prevalent medical
conditions, including AIDS, cancer and diabetes."
Individuals
Groove provides individuals a broad range of tools for instant group
communications and interaction. Simple tools enable sharing of files,
lists, messages, calendars, Web bookmarks, photos, and other media.
More advanced, solution-oriented tool sets will help individuals
collaborate on joint projects, orchestrate remote meetings and
presentations, plan family events, share photo albums, or play
interactive games.
All content that is entered into a Groove shared space is stored
within, and automatically synchronized between individuals'
computers, giving users complete control over their content,
regardless of whether they're connected to the Internet. Moreover,
Groove fully encrypts all content, both on the users' PCs and across
the network, ensuring confidentiality of all communications.
"The conversations we create with email are a mess," said Jon Udell,
an industry observer and author of O'Reilly and Associates' Practical
Internet Groupware. "Discussion forums and document archives can help
preserve the contexts in which we collaborate, but they require
full-time Internet access, or corporate IT support, or both. What's
exciting about Groove is the way it empowers users to create - for
themselves -- the dynamic groups, coherent sets of messages and
documents, and secure shared spaces that they need to do their work."
Developers and Integrators
Groove Networks also announced today the availability of a free
Groove development kit (GDK) that allows developers to leverage
Groove's platform services. Utilizing the GDK, corporate developers,
systems integrators, independent software developers, and Web
developers can integrate Groove with existing business systems, or
create entirely new peer-to-peer and peer-to-Web solutions [see
related release].
Pricing, Availability & System Requirements
The Preview Edition of Groove is free and available now from
http://www.groove.net. Pricing for customized business solutions is
available upon request from Groove Networks and its partners. The
Preview Edition of Groove requires Windows Me, 95, 98, NT 4.0 or
2000, and an Intel-compatible personal computer with a minimum 64 MB
of memory, 233 MHz Pentium processor, 56K modem (or a faster Internet
connection) and Internet Explorer 4 or higher. A Linux version of
Groove is in development.
About Groove Networks
Groove Networks Inc. is privately held and headquartered in Beverly,
Mass. Since its founding in October 1997, the company has obtained
more than $60 million in financing from Accel Partners, Intel
Capital, and private investors. For more information about Groove
Networks, visit http://www.groovenetworks.com. For more information
about career opportunities, visit http://www.groovenetworks.com/jobs.
###
Groove Networks and Groove are trademarks of Groove Networks Inc. All
other trademarks are owned by their respective companies.
Editors' Note: A rebroadcast of the full press conference will be
available for viewing beginning at noon Eastern Time on Wednesday,
October 25, at http://www.groovenetworks.com/launchevent.
Contacts: Richard Eckel
Groove Networks
(978) 720-2260
reckel@groove.net Kristen Fahey
The Weber Group
(617) 520-7022
kfahey@webergroup.com
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