OpenOffice gets groupware boost

By Steve Malone

Posted on 11 Jul 2003 at 11:30

The Open Office Group has announced the formation of the OpenGroupware.org project. The new software is said to be the final piece of the 'OpenStack' roadmap to develop open source versions of all the key components of modern office applications.

With the addition of a groupware product, OpenOffice proponents now claim that open source office applications are ready for the larger enterprise.

The software, based around the code of SkyRix 4.1 Groupware Server, contains the components integrated with the OpenOffice.org suite and various other Linux and Windows groupware clients. The OpenGroupware software itself runs on the Linux and Solaris platforms.

The OpenGroupware project will operate with OpenOffice.org software and other open clients through open standards. It is aimed to fill the niche occupied by Microsoft Exchange in the Windows arena and is seen as a vital component in developing a complete business solution through open source software components

Developed by Germany's Skyrix Software AG, The SkyRix 4.1 Groupware Server, has been around for 7 years, and one of the earliest groupware products for the Linux operating system.

The team behind the OpenGroupware project say their aim is to allow users to share calendar, address book and e-mail data, communicate via instant messaging, share folders and documents, track changes, share a whiteboard, and browse the Web all at the same time. All of which will be based on open standards and all licence free.

Document sharing capabilities will enable users of MS Outlook (97/2000/XP), Ximian Evolution, Mozilla Calendar, OOo Glow (OpenOffice.org Groupware Project's client product), Apple's iCal and other standards-based groupware clients to collaborate together.

OpenGroupware.org is licensed under the open source dual licenses, Lesser General Public License (LGPL) and the General Public License (GPL). Libraries and components are licensed under the terms of the LGPL and applications are licensed under the GPL. For users, this means in part that the OpenGroupware software can be used, improved and redistributed at no cost. For developers, the licensing implications vary depending on the type of code contribution.