Getting in the Groove

Ray Ozzie, who led the team that built Lotus Notes, started Groove Networks in 1997. The idea was to build a kind of hybrid peer-to-peer platform for teams to collaborate across boundaries. Version 2.0 has now been released and it enables people like you and me to take advantage of Groove's collaborative tools. Let's go to the press release:

"Groove Networks Inc. today (4/15) announced that for the first time small businesses and individuals can purchase Groove® products and services from the company's Web site at www.groove.net. Available immediately is Groove Workspace™, an out-of-the-box collaboration solution for small businesses and individuals seeking to increase productivity, reduce travel costs, and tighten connections with partners, customers and suppliers. Groove Workspace version 2.0 features integration with Microsoft Office applications, time-saving project and meeting management tools, and the ability to customize tools for specific business tasks and processes."

Microsoft recently invested $51 million in Groove Networks. Version 2.0 makes you realize why.