I think, therefore IM
Open Text has released both the business and education editions of its integrated communication and messaging offering.
In addition to enhanced scalability, Open Text reports new features FirstClass 8.0 include:
Instant messaging and presence management—New IM capabilities provide secure, real-time communication between users. FirstClass IM supports text, images, voice and attachments as well as transcript saving and forwarding. Enhanced presence management in FirstClass 8.0 indicates online status for every user automatically, turning e-mail messages, collaborative postings, calendar events, and contact entries into context-sensitive "buddy lists" with no user effort required.
Directory services—A new module facilitates the integration of FirstClass into corporate meta-directory environments including LDAP and Microsoft Active Directory. FCDS enables bi-directional user administration between FirstClass and directories, as well as providing access to FirstClass directories from end-user client applications.
Security enhancements—Features include always-on CAST-128 encryption between the client and server, as well as additional support for user authentication and automated detection and prevention of denial-of-service attacks. E-mail security improvements include S/MIME support for secure server-to-server e-mail transmission and integration with third-party virus scanning engines. FirstClass 8.0 also adds expanded spam management capabilities.
FirstClass Explorer—The new FirstClass Explorer provides the full benefits of the FirstClass client as an ActiveX plug-in for Microsoft Internet Explorer.
Support for multiple computing platforms: FirstClass 8.0 will be available on a wide variety of computing platforms, including Microsoft Windows (95, 98, NT, 2000 and XP versions), Apple Macintosh (OS 8, OS 9 and OS X versions), HTML/Web and Linux.
In other Open Text news, the company reports it will acquire digital asset management vendor Artesia Technologies.
Privately owned Artesia Technologies provides customer organizations and their marketing and distribution partners with the ability to easily access and collaborate around a centrally managed collection of digital media elements.
Its applications include:
Production Asset Management—content reuse and collaboration at the center of the creative process for digital media content.
Brand Asset Management—control over and reuse of the digital media elements used in marketing campaigns.
Distribution Asset Management—streamlining the distribution of digital media and digital marketing materials to the supply chain.
Rich Digital Media Asset Management—enhances content management and collaboration by extending search, retrieval, viewing and analysis to rich digital media content and its associated metadata.
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