Compaq rolls out collaboration software for Exchange, Outlook

A new tool from Compaq lets Microsoft Exchange users take their messaging system two steps further, towards collaboration and workflow. Work Expeditor Version 1.1 offers real-time collaboration, a security framework with individual-document access control, and ad-hoc and role-based workflow with transparent integration into Outlook and Exchange. Users store documents, forms and folders in an SQL-based business object store, which retains a description of the logic behind the work processes, the roles and responsibilities of the people on the team, and as access control to work information. Pricing for Work Expeditor starts at $3,000 for the server software and one client license; a single additional client license is $199, with volume pricing under $100.

"The ability for teams and companies to collaborate and share documents is a critical productivity factor in many industries today," said Aberdeen Group analyst Tim Sloane. "Work Expeditor builds on the Microsoft Exchange foundation and adds significantly to businesses' ability to create collaboration solutions for their specific requirements."

Sohrab Mansourian, IT Advisor for the State of California Legislative Data Center, thinks Work Expeditor's security and workflow can handle their dynamic and routine legislative work processes. "The California State Legislature produces thousands of documents and bills, moving through thousands of hands," he said. "We believe Work Expeditor could reduce the time spent collecting changes and re-routing documents for approval, [and] the seamless integration with Microsoft Outlook would make it simpler for our customers to learn and use.