Sun Microsystems improve performance and scalability on the updated
versions of its iPlanet Messaging and Calendar Servers.
New features in the iPlanet Messaging Server 5.2 include a Webmail
proxy for increased scalability, support for SMS, a rich text
editing capability, and a Webmail spellchecker.
Enhancements to the iPlanet Calendar Server 5.1 include Sun Cluster
support for high availability, new XML support designed to ease
integration with other applications, increased security and privacy
features, and improved connectivity options.
A number of collaboration methods, including e-mail, voice, instant
messaging, and peer-to-peer, are converging within the portal
framework, driving the need for service provider-level scalability
in the enterprise, said John Fanelli, director of marketing at Sun.
Sun is looking to extend its carrier-grade platforms deeper into
the corporate space.
"Enterprises are looking for the same capabilities that service
providers look for," he said. "As we see the convergence of portals
and communications, we are seeing the need for an enterprise to
have service provider-class capabilities."
Corporate workers are trying to mesh their communications and
calendaring activities more closely with business activities,
according to Dana Gardner, research director at Aberdeen
Group.
"The more applications you can bring in and the more coordination
and context you can bring from the directory and ID management, the
more comprehensive your portal becomes. I don't think you can call
a portal complete without communications, and I think iPlanet
recognises that," he said.