Groove touts performance, usability in updated Virtual Office

Computerworld - Collaboration software vendor Groove Networks Inc. next week plans to announce an updated version of its flagship software, which it said will offer better security, improved performance and new ease-of-use features.
Previously known as Groove Workspace 2.5, Groove Virtual Office 3.0 has faster launch times and allows multiple Groove project workspaces to be opened without a noticeable performance hit, according to Andrew Mahon, director of strategic marketing at the Beverly, Mass.-based company. The product also includes a new on-screen launch bar, where contacts with other collaborators can be managed from a single place, as well as synchronization capabilities that allow users to automatically share folders on their Windows machines with other users.
In addition to Groove's existing forms-editor tools, the 3.0 release includes 10 forms templates designed to allow users to more quickly use standard forms for their collaboration projects.
On the server side, the newest version of the software includes third-party public-key infrastructure security, as well as built-in auditing capabilities and backup functions.
Richard Prather, CIO and vice president of technology for CARE, said the worldwide humanitarian relief agency began using Groove last year for about 70 relief workers in Central America and about 40 IT staffers. He's pleased with how it allows remote workers to do their jobs even if an online connection isn't immediately available. Users can take advantage of Groove's off-line work capabilities and then sync up automatically with other group members when they're able to go online, he said.
That is a big benefit in remote locations where online connections and even electricity can be frequently cut off, Prather said. The application is also easy to use and intuitive -- even for users without a lot of computer experience, he said.
The Groove software is part of a five-nation pilot project called "Information Anywhere" that Atlanta-based CARE is conducting over six months "to determine how to operate in a very decentralized environment with no or poor connectivity," he said.
Another user, Glen Johnson, director of the U.S. State Department Iraq Transition Management staff in Washington, said Groove was chosen for a pilot project by his agency primarily because it offers better security. "No [competing products] other than Groove secured the data in transit and on the desktop," Johnson said.
Ethan Schoonover, e-business director in Asia for London-based advertising agency Lowe & Partners Worldwide, said some 300 workers at his company have been using Groove for preparing ad pitches, managing accounts and performing strategic research.
Version 2.5 of the software works as advertised, and many of the