Intel gets the Web 2.0 bug with business web apps

By Alun Williams

Posted on 8 Nov 2006 at 12:48

Intel is getting in on the Web 2.0 act. It is launching SuiteTwo, which it describes as a Web 2.0 business Internet suite.

Essentially, Intel has packaged together various online apps from companies such as Six Apart, Socialtext, NewsGator, SimpleFeed and SpikeSource, with the aim to 'improve productivity and enable high-engagement marketing'. More specifically, it includes Web applications that incorporate blogging, RSS, search and Wiki capabilities. All the services are integrated with a single sign-on, Intel states.

We can expect future releases of SuiteTwo to include podcasting, business networking, mobility and other features.

Applications currently in the suite include Socialtext (for Wiki-based group-editable websites), NewsGator (an RSS aggregator for accessing news, information and podcasts), SimpleFeed (for syndicating content to external business partners, such as product updates), Movable Type (a blogging tool designed for enterprises) and SpikeSource (providing the underlying platform for SuiteTwo).

The suite will run on Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and Microsoft Windows.

The term 'Web 2.0' is a shorthand for online services that encourage greater collaboration around user-generated content. Not all are convinced by this label, however, including Web creator Sir Tim Berners-Lee - Sir Tim Berners-Lee punctures Web 2.0 hype.

For its part, Intel sees the suite as a new opportunity for working with businesses. The company's own venture capital organisation, Intel Capital, is behind the initiative and Intel says it will make the suite available through its OEM and reseller channels.

'This was a unique opportunity to actively create an effective software suite that delivers heightened capabilities to the enterprise ecosystem,' said Arvind Sodhani, president of Intel Capital. 'Intel Capital is the only global venture capital organisation of its kind that can spearhead a project like this by offering an engagement with Intel business units and international promotion through appropriate channels.'