Search in Messages and Documents has been redesigned. This is a first step to a series of new features that will be available in a near future. The “contains” criterion replaces the “all text fields” option. If you want to narrow your search, you can use other criteria such as document name or last modification date in Documents, or sender or subject in Messages. You can use the * character to search on words starting with the letters you entered. Example: “contactof” for “contactoffice”. You can’t use the * character in the first four positions because this would create too wide queries. Example: you can enter “conta” but not “co*”.

Overview of pending meeting invitations You receive meeting invitations from ContactOffice users and then accept or refuse them. As these invitations are sent by e-mail, you might forget to handle them. The list of pending meeting invitations is now displayed in your private calendar, in the “Invitations” section. Meetings occurring in the past are not displayed though.

Free, busy, tentative and of out of office Each event now has availability options:

Free: This means you are still available, despite the event. For instance, you have created an event to remind you that an item will be delivered between 2 and 4 but you are not actually busy waiting for it and unable to do something else. “Free” is the default status for “all day” events because you are at work although it is John’s birthday (or even yours). Busy: This is the default status for normal events, meaning that you are actually busy because of this event. Tentative: This status is for unconfirmed reservations in your calendar. Meetings invitations that you haven’t accepted (or refused) yet appear with a tentative status; when you accept them, they switch to the busy status. Use the Tentative status when you create an event which is not sure yet. Out of office: This status means you can’t accept events because you are not at the office, for professional or personal reasons. If you want a day off because it’s your birthday, create an all-day event and apply this status, instead of the default status (which is “Free”, as explained before).

You can change the availability status of any of your events by editing its properties. You can’t change the status for layered external calendars though. These options are standards. You will find them in third-party software, such as Microsoft Outlook. Note that Apple iCal only supports 2 of them: Free and Busy. In next releases, we will improve the display of events according to the availability status.

Quotas moved to the Account menu Quotas are now located in the Account menu, which now appears in every tool. You can view the Quotas for your private environment as well as for each group you belong to.

The “Paul-Henri Spaak” higher school has selected ContactOffice as messaging and collaborative solution. Leader on the French higher education market, ContactOffice now enters the Belgian market with this first higher school located in Brussels. Administrative staff and teachers have been using their new collaboration platform for a few weeks. Thanks to their customized virtual office, they now benefit from shared calendars, contacts and documents. Because of the reorganization of higher education in Belgium, the customer needed e-mail addresses on two domain names: each user has his primary address on the main domain and an alias on the secondary domain, all messages being delivered to a single mailbox. The higher school’s head of IT department comments on the quick adoption by end-users: “Everybody here likes this new tool. It’s very easy and straightforward. We plan to capitalize this enthusiasm and bring new ways of collaborative work that most will abide by.” Other higher schools in Belgium have already shown interest in a ContactOffice customized version because it allows smooth electronic document distribution and easy communication with students and staff members, for instance.

Here are the release notes for Advanced interface version 1.8.001, currently available on ContactOffice servers. “Quit” button now appears on the right The “Quit” button has not disappeared, you will find it on the right, in last position.

Use this button to leave your virtual office in a secure way: just closing the browser window does not end your session. Lighter menu bar Because some features are not used every day (such as Preferences and Filters for Messaging for instance), we grouped these in a new menu bar item called “More”. Just click on it to display its contents.

Messages: bye bye winmail.dat files Some Microsoft Exchange servers or Outlook clients send e-mails in a proprietary format. In this case, you get the message contents in a “winmail.dat” attachment that you can’t read. ContactOffice now converts such files and display their contents immediately. Other improvements:

Messages: Printing problems with Internet Explorer are solved. Messages and Documents: In search results, you can now move or drag an item to the Trash. Calendar: When you refuse a meeting, the event window will now close automatically.

The SynchroExpress software synchronizes ContactOffice with your computer. Your computer can then synchronize with mobile devices. This way, you can synchronize ContactOffice with mobile devices. The latest SynchroExpress version (3.0 - build 3052) has been released and allows synchronizing ContactOffice with:

Outlook (all versions, including 2007) Devices running on Microsoft Mobile (via Outlook) Synchronize your mobile device with Outlook. Then, synchronize Outlook with ContactOffice. Apple iPhone (via Outlook) Choose “iPhone” when setting up Synchro Express. Then, set-up Apple iTunes so that it synchronizes your iPhone with Outlook. Unfortunately, it is not possible to synchronize with iTunes directly. BlackBerry (without Outlook) If not installed yet, install BlackBerry Desktop Software. Choose “BlackBerry” when setting up SynchroExpress. You don’t need Outlook to synchronise ContactOffice with your BlackBerry. Palm (without Outlook) If not installed yet, install Palm Desktop Manager. Choose “Palm” when setting up SynchroExpress.

Please note SynchroExpress is available for Windows only. The installer is Windows 7 compliant. To get this new version, log in your account and go to the Synchro page. Before installing it, read the documentation and limitations in the online help. In a few months, we will offer alternatives such as SyncML to synchronize :

with other platforms (Mac, Linux) “over-the-air” (ie. without connecting the mobile device to a computer, the device will be connecting directly to ContactOffice through the Internet).

After 10 years of good service, the previous version just retired today as ContactOffice launched its new website. So long old chap, you did a good job. From now, users logging on http://www.contactoffice.com will be prompted the Advanced interface, now selected by default. The Advanced interface benefits from all the new features while the Classic interface doesn’t. In addition, the Classic interface is not maintained anymore and will disappear one day. So now, use the Advanced interface instead. If you can’t get rid of the classic interface, just check “classic interface” under the “ENTER” button on the login page. We look forward to your feedback on facebook, twitter or on our blog. CO

Hi, Paris was the third stop for CloudStorm and followed a successful launch in Brussels in early September and an event in London in October. The CloudStorm event gives its visitors the chance to quickly understand both technical and business benefits of cloud solutions directly from the vendor and to meet after their presentatoins. Once again, CloudStorm was a great succes. View our presentation online: ContactOffice Presentation Cloudstorm Paris

The next editions of the CloudStorm event will take place in Amsterdam, Germany, Madrid… free attendance. More info on http://www.cloudstorm.org Pictures from this event are available on our Facebook Page

Bonjour, Paris était le troisième arrêt pour CloudStorm et a suivi un lancement réussi à Bruxelles début Septembre et un événement à Londres en Octobre. L’événement CloudStorm donne la possibilité à ses visiteurs de comprendre rapidement les avantages techniques et commerciaux de “cloud solutions” directement auprès du fournisseur et de les rencontrer après leurs présentations. Une fois de plus, CloudStorm a été un grand succès. Visionnez notre présentation en ligne: ContactOffice Presentation Cloudstorm Paris

Les prochaines éditions de CloudStorm auront lieu à Amsterdam, en Allemagne, à Madrid… entrée libre. Plus d’informations sur http://www.cloudstorm.org Les photos de cet événement sont disponibles sur notre Page Facebook

CloudStorm is a new style event set up by companies offering innovating solutions in cloud computing! CloudStorm Brussels, September 2nd, Atomium Brussels, 16h00 CET At CloudStorm, you will receive in 100 minutes an update of the latest trends and products in Cloud Computing, followed by a mini expo and networking opportunity. CloudStorm is an event where the real products are shown. To make it interesting for everybody, each event will feature only one vendor in each cloud type solution. This ensures a much broader view than on any other event on Cloud Computing and allows you to select the technology solution that best suits your needs! Each event will cover following cloud topics: * Cloud Infrastructure as a Service * Cloud Platform as a Service * Cloud Software as a Service * Cloud Security * Cloud Datacenter * Networking in the Cloud * Loadbalancing in the Cloud * Firewalls in the Cloud * Cloud Platforms * Billing for the Cloud Participating companies will share their vision on cloud and also present on site their actual cloud solutions! The CloudStorm is an initiative of the IT Valley innovation center in Gent including A-Server, B-Virtual, Racktivity and SUN Microsystems and its partners Microsoft, SymetriQ, CloudSphere, REP42, Zeus, Calamares, ContactOffice, C3Wave, …

ContactOffice was in Lyon yesterday presenting its solution to the Pres de Lyon. The Pres de Lyon regroupes all universities and superior education institutions of the Lyon region (around 10 universities). The presentation gives an overview of the major assets of our solution for Education: - Flexibility of deployment (SAAS, licence,…) - Ease of administration (SSO, LDAP, CAS,…) - Integration of all tools in one - Strong collaborative functions that allow a broad array of usages (pedagogical, individual, collaborative) for all types of users from students, to faculty to personnel and researchers. - Our strong experience and expertise of Education - Conformity to standards (vcard, vcal, mbox,….) and especially the fact that universities have a dedicated partner that listens to thier needs and assists them in the deployment and management of the application, be it in licence model on their servers or in a mutualised mode on a common infrastructure for different universities together in a region or even in a SAAS mode on our own servers.

Arnaud Huret, CEO of ContactOffice, was invited as speaker at the Convergence Web conference organised last week in Namur by the AWT (Agence Wallonne des Telecoms). During his presentation, Arnaud explained how the Internet impacted the software industry during the last 15 years, from good old desktop applications to the rise of the SaaS model. Saas, WebApps, WebTop, … Mythes et réalités sur les "Web Applications" pour l'entreprise View more OpenOffice presentations from awt.

Have also a look at Arnaud’s interview recorded by the AWT crew: Journée conférence de l’AWT “Convergence Web”Posté le 20/05/2009 sur http://www.awt.be

Jim Burleigh, CEO of SmartTurn, wrote a very interesting column on the website of IndustryWeek about the connexion between Saas and… the Swine Flu. Even though Saas can’t really help to prevent the spread of such infectious diseases, this model enables companies to better respond to shocks and disruptions that threat their business continuity when a major crisis like this occurs, Burleigh argues. In the past, implementing a warehouse and inventory management system required costly and time-consuming enterprise software. A typical implementation would take 6 months due to complex integration, and additional IT investments. However, with the maturity of software-as-a-service (Saas), an organization can have real-time visibility and shipping management is as little as 30 days. Because SaaS is web-based and operated offsite, another inherent benefit is less reliance on an in-house IT department. By deploying a new WMS, you not only raise inventory accuracy from 91% to over 99% accuracy and increase new customer acquisition, you prevent potential hardships in the days and weeks ahead. Check out the entire column here.

According to a recent Gartner survey called “User Survey Analysis: Usage Plans for SaaS Application Software, France, Germany and the UK 2009″, UK and France are leading the way in Saas adoption. Gartner found 71% of French respondents say their organisation currently uses SaaS for business applications, compared to 68% in the UK and 45% in Germany. Most respondents agreed they choose SaaS primarily because they considered it more cost-effective than an on-premises application. Other reasons given included ease of deployment and internal resource constraints (source: Network World).

According to a study conducted by IDC, sales of SaaS are expected to grow at a rate of 40 to 42% this year and the harsh economic climate will probably strenghten this trend in the months to come. Check out the official press release for furher information.

According to a study conducted by MeriTalk, an online community that studies public policy and IT, the US federal government could save billions by moving to more open source software, virtualization and Saas. “With a grave economic outlook and a new administration in office, Federal agencies will be forced to do more with less,” the study says. “Instead of worrying over a budget stop, why not make the most of the money we are already investing?” MeriTalk stresses that 6.6 billion dollars could be saved with an improved use of Saas technologies, which would secure the salaries of more than 107.000 (!) Federal civilian employees this year. Check out here this 14-slide study.

Wow, what an evening. Thanks a lot to Robin for organising this great get-together and of course Mike for coming to Ghent.
Thanks also to Bart Claeys for his super pictures of the evening. Below our presentation: ContactOffice: Online Collaboration and Messaging that kicks ass ! View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: collaboration messaging)

As announced in september, more languages are in the Pipeline. We are happy to announce that after French, English, Dutch, Spanish and Italian, ContactOffice now also is available in German. The entire application and commercial website has been translated and made avaible in the language of Goethe and Schiller. The http://www.contactoffice.de url has also been opened. This new language version has been released in order to answer to the increasing demand for our application in Germany and the german-speaking world. Willkommen ;-)

Its been eight long years since the boys said wassup to each other. Even with the effects of a down economy and imminent change in the White House, the boys are still able to come together and stay true to what really matters.

We are happy to announce that after French, English, Dutch and Spanish, ContactOffice now also is available in Italian. The entire application and commercial website has been translated and made avaible in the language of Dante.
The http://www.contactoffice.it url has also been opened. This new language version has been released in order to answer to increasing demand for our application in Italy and has been developed in collaboration with a first private lable customer and reseller based in Rome. More languages are in the pipeline ;-)

2 hommes

TMAB is organising a Software as a Service Congres on 16 Octobre 2008 in Brussels. We’ll be there and giving some specific customer cases. When? On Thursday 16 October 2008 from 13.30 am until 16.40 pm followed by a networking closing coctail and contact with the partners of the congress Where? Business Faculty in Brussels More about our interventing and this event in a later post. For the quick ones among you, we have 7 entrytickets to distribute. Contact us at info (at) contactoffice.com to be one of the lucky ones. Patrick

The Virtual Office of the Université Lumière Lyon 2 is celebrating its 5 years! Exactly five years ago in July 2003 the virtual office of the University of Lyon 2 was launched. It was our first customer in the education sector and they took a bet by choosing a then unknown collaborative solution in order to build their learning portal. Since then many other universities and schools have followed their example such as the Université Numérique en Région de PACA (120.000 users), UNR d’Aquitaine (80.000) and since a month the PRES de Toulouse (100.000). We want to congratulate the University of Lyon 2 with the anniversary. A big thank you to Alexandre Bonucci and his entire team for the confidence they gave us. We at ContactOffice really appreciate the professional and enjoyable relationship that has grown over the years. Did you know the virtual office of Lyon 2 totalises more than 14 million mails and stores more than 2.5 million documents. By following this link you’ll find some interesting stats on evolution of users at Lyon 2, numbers of messages sent through our application, management of spams,etc… You can also check out the fun video about new technologies at the campus or have a look a the handy flash tutorials. Félicitations Lyon 2. The ContactOffice team