Novell to overhaul GroupWise package

Novell plans to overhaul its GroupWise collaboration software package next year into a component-based model.

Jan. 2, 2002 4:43 p.m. PT

Novell plans to overhaul its GroupWise collaboration software package next year into a component-based model, company executives said.

Due to be in product form sometime in 2000, the new platform will be held together by a back-end server and Web-based clients in a framework based on XML (Extensible Markup Language).

"We plan to ship GroupWise 5.5 into 2000, after the date change," said Tom Rhoton, a director of product marketing at Novell. "It makes sense and it is what our customers want us to do."

Instead of deploying large messaging applications, users will be able to assemble the pieces they want, Rhoton explained. "It will enable users to purchase the product by component as well."

The new architecture of GroupWise will include an application framework, in which all data is exposed via XM, and Novell Directory Services (NDS) will be used for setting access privileges.