Observers unsure where Groove's peer-to-peer software will fit with Longhorn, Office 12
In acquiring Groove Networks (Profile, Products, Articles), Microsoft's (Profile, Products, Articles) collaboration strategy will gain a clear boost, but the move raises questions about how swiftly and effectively the two companies can integrate Groove's technology into Longhorn and the next version of Office.
The deal calls for Microsoft to add Groove's flagship product to Microsoft's Office System lineup. Ray Ozzie, Groove's founder and the developer of Lotus Notes, will become one of three CTOs at Microsoft reporting directly to Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates.
"We will bring together the peer-to-peer and authentication capabilities Groove has built into their application with the equivalent things we have been incubating at Microsoft to strengthen the platform. Clearly, a big thing with Longhorn is its peer-to-peer capabilities, and Groove will help us pull that together," Gates said.
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