Web-based collab pack gains features

Advanced Reality this week is upgrading its browser-based collaboration package with features for letting customers integrate document sharing, VoIP, e-mail and instant messaging systems.

The Jybe 2.0 Server works in tandem with the Jybe 2.0 client, which can be downloaded for free and plugs into Internet Explorer and Firefox. The client adds two buttons for inviting end users and sharing documents.

The server features a conversion technology that can transform PowerPoint, Excel and Word documents into HTML so users can share them using only a browser. The server also works with corporate directories to support access control. The Jybe 2.0 client integrates with Microsoft Outlook's address book and buddy lists from IM clients so end users can find colleagues for collaboration sessions. Jybe also integrates with Skype, a VoIP desktop client.

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Advanced Reality this week is upgrading its browser-based collaboration package with features for letting customers integrate document sharing, VoIP, e-mail and instant messaging systems.

The Jybe 2.0 Server works in tandem with the Jybe 2.0 client, which can be downloaded for free and plugs into Internet Explorer and Firefox. The client adds two buttons for inviting end users and sharing documents.

The server features a conversion technology that can transform PowerPoint, Excel and Word documents into HTML so users can share them using only a browser. The server also works with corporate directories to support access control. The Jybe 2.0 client integrates with Microsoft Outlook's address book and buddy lists from IM clients so end users can find colleagues for collaboration sessions. Jybe also integrates with Skype, a VoIP desktop client.

The Jybe software is designed to provide users with a straightforward collaboration environment based on client software already on corporate desktops. The Jybe client software, which is less than 1M byte, must be downloaded but is the only browser modification required.

Northern Illinois University (NIU) uses Jybe to support a virtual research service, where users can chat with a librarian who can direct them to resources during a shared browser session.

"This has been so easy to set up and so easy to use," says TJ Lusher, assistant dean of automated library systems at NIU in DeKalb. "The server software takes so little bandwidth you don't even know it is running," says Lusher, who hopes to have 5,000 users by year-end.

Jybe lets multiple users view one URL at the same time. The URL can be a Web page or part of a Web-based application. A security mechanism prevents users from sharing password-protected Web pages or applications unless each user has his password.

With Jybe, users don't share screens. They share only the small bit of data contained in a URL, and that saves bandwidth.

The new server software also lets companies set up their own internal collaboration platforms without having to go through a Jybe server run by Advanced Reality.

The server also adds a number of features, including designating a session leader who can activate certain collaboration features for session participants, the ability for all users in a collaboration session to see what other users type into form fields, a co-scrolling feature that keeps every user at the same place on a Web page, and a button to send invitations to collaboration sessions via e-mail. Advanced Reality will eventually extend the invitation feature to IM, according to company officials.

Jybe compares with resource sharing services from Web conferencing providers WebEx and Microsoft, and competes with products from vendors such as Docutek.

The Jybe server runs on Windows 2000 and 2003, and the .Net Framework. The server is priced between $5,000 and $10,000, depending on configuration.

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