SharePoint Portal Server  2.0 Beta

Microsoft SharePoint Portal Server 2.0 Beta 2 enables enterprises to develop an intelligent portal that seamlessly connects users, teams, and knowledge so that people can leverage relevant information across business processes to help them work more efficiently. The program provides a secure enterprise business solution that integrates information from various systems into one solution through single sign on and enterprise application integration capabilities, as well as flexible deployment options and management tools.

The portal facilitates end-to-end collaboration by enabling aggregation, organization, and search capabilities for people, teams, and information. It also enables users to find relevant information quickly through customization and personalization of portal content and layout, as well as by audience targeting. The latter is a way to target information and updates via notifications or Web Parts to individuals based on their organizational role, team membership, interest, security group, or any other membership criteria that can be defined.

I tested SharePoint Services by using a test version of Windows Server 2003. I was able to administer through the web and basically all the native Office applications. The site can be designed using Microsoft FrontPage or the site templates provided. Users can use the website to post announcements, share documents and tasks. It seems to be a very complete solution that may be widely deployed by enterprises a few years down the road.