Groove Aims to Boost Ease of Use

Computerworld - Groove Networks Inc. today plans to release an upgrade of its end-user collaboration software that it said offers improved security and scalability capabilities as well as better performance and ease of use.
Beverly, Mass.-based Groove, which is headed by Lotus Notes creator Ray Ozzie, began beta-testing the the Groove Virtual Office 3.0 upgrade in March. The new release launches and transfers data more quickly and lets end users open multiple project workspaces without suffering noticeable performance hits, said Andrew Mahon, Groove's director of strategic marketing.
The upgrade also includes an on-screen launch bar for managing workspaces and contacts with other Groove users, as well as Windows folder synchronization capabilities that let users share any files stored on their PCs. On the server side, Groove said it's adding support for third-party public-key infrastructure user authentication tools.
Ethan Schoonover, e-business director at London-based ad agency Lowe & Partners Worldwide, said about 300 of the company's workers use the existing Groove Workspace 2.5 to prepare ad pitches, manage accounts and do strategic research. Many of the new features in Virtual Office 3.0 are "a great example of a company really listening to user feedback," said Schoonover, who works in Hong Kong.
The improved launch speed "addresses a key issue with 2.5 -- that it was sometimes sluggish," said Schoonover. "Even our technophobe users could get the hang of it."
David Marshak, an analyst at The Patricia Seybold Group Inc. in Boston, said Groove's key strength is that it combines real-time online collaboration with the ability to do work off-line and then synchronize data with other employees. Groove's integration of those features "is much better than anyone else has even attempted," he said.