Q: Will .NET servers bring collaborative work functionalities going forward? What`s MS position with regard Groove Networks?
JIM ALLCHIN: Basic file serving is moving to project/team serving. STS 2.0, which is part of Windows server, will be a huge step forward for collab. In terms of RTC, we are building an RTC Service which will also run on Windows .NET Server. We are in production (with beta code) at one large customer now. Then there is how Office will evolve to encompass more of this RTC functionality. Groove is a great app. The way to think about it is that we will build a rich RTC platform (meaning APIs!) that others like Groove/Office/others can build on. [Jeroen Bekkers' Groove Weblog]
"Groove is a great app."
Here's how I would translate it: "Look at Groove as an application, not a platform. If you want to build collaborative applications - pick Windows as your platform."
If you ask Raikes (CEO of Office Corp.) the same question, my guess is, he'll characterize Groove as collaborative platform that augments Office collaborative capabilities. Groove's platform capabilities is what he highlights when he talks about it.
To me, Allchin's mindset confirms what i was saying before about Windows vs. Office vs. Groove 'coo-petition'. Groove is the fact that is under attack on both fronts and has to pick its battles wisely. The good news for Groove is the fact that next windows server release was pushed even further in the blurry future.
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