The NET-TEL Response to the Information Challenge
The NET-TEL response to the Information Challenge has been set out in the vision described in part 4, providing the Universal Information Server, Client and associated products.
How do these products address the market forces at work?
The Internet and Intranets
For NET-TEL the challenge of the Internet and Intranets has been met by the provision of comprehensive support for the Internet communications protocols and the relevant Internet/Intranet applications (mail and Web access, and eCommerce) in a seamless and user friendly manner. The NET-TEL response to the challenge of the Internet and the deployment of Intranets has been rapid, positive and innovative:
- all products have the Internet protocol option for communications (client-server and server-server), including the RFC 1006 standard for full interoperability with open products from other vendors
- our Internet Mail Gateway with MIME support provides rich interoperability between X.400 and SMTP or SMTP/MIME systems
- the WebMail gateway component of the Universal Information Server provides Web browser mail access at the desktop to a user's common mail box with "state of the art" look and feel
- for the mobile user, WebMail provides instant, secure (SSL), message access simply by entering a URL and password at a browser in any remote location with Internet access. No user configuration is required
- the Web Server component of the Universal Information Server addresses the needs of eCommerce in addition to our existing EDI/X.435 support
- mail clients can uniformly address Internet, X.400, fax, standards or proprietary based mail recipients
- the full richness, intelligence and reliability of the industrial strength Route400 business quality messaging backbone (Document Conversion, Messaging & Anti-Virus Firewalls) applies equally to Internet/Intranet protocol-based users
- client access for industry standard POP3 and IMAP4 users will be provided to a common mail box, also accessible via Web and "client-server" from a Microsoft enabled or UNIX desktop
- NET-TEL will support the S/MIME and PKCS#7 approaches for inter-operable end-to-end message security
- NET-TEL is committed to tracking the work of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and will continue to provide integrated products that follow the evolution of their standards, where relevant
NET-TEL are strategically committed to provide products that support and exploit Microsoft initiatives both for clients and for servers. The native implementation client products integrate with the Microsoft desktop in a natural way. The servers for the NT platform are positioned as strategic products:
- the Service Provider Interface (SPI) products make available full access to the benefits and connectivity of Route400 Universal Information Server backbones to any Microsoft desktop application
- the Universal Information Client is a native 32-bit application that supports and integrates with the MAPI and OLE architectures. Its Office 97 "look and feel" allows it to be used from the desktop in a completely natural way
- the Universal Information Client provides choice to users for more performance, reliable messaging and higher functionality
- shared folders will be fully supported
- NET-TEL is fully committed to following the evolution of Microsoft's desktop office application products in order to provide continued integration and conformant "look and feel" for clients
- the proven messaging backbone capability of the Universal Information Server is extended to utilise Windows NT systems in service mode
- NET-TEL server products will continue to follow and exploit relevant Microsoft server evolution (eg Wolfpack)
The NET-TEL universal information product sets naturally evolve using "push" and "pull" technologies to meet the needs of these classes of application. NET-TEL can deliver universal access (via a number of access methods) to shared information, supporting collaborative discussions, document libraries and:
- the power, intelligence, document processing and connectivity capabilities of the NET-TEL messaging backbone are available to all workflow applications
- shared folders will support collaborative and groupware clients and applications including threaded discussion views
- support of the open IETF calsch initiative will allow both intra- and extra- organisation co-operation for calendaring and scheduling using NET-TEL products
- full calendaring and scheduling capability will be available from the NET-TEL Universal Information Client
Recognising the continued development of the markets for X.400 and X.500 standards based technology, the NET-TEL culture for excellence in this regard has enabled it to exploit, develop and extend its product range conformant to the latest CCITT and ISO standards. Product developments in these areas include:
- Message Store conforming to the 1994 standards
- use of the extensible architecture for innovative new Message Store
capabilities
(remote access address book, Microsoft TNEF processing) - Automatic Message Processing in the Message Store, off-line, in background
- X.500 industry standard information repository, including support for LDAP
- X.509 security model (keys and certificates)
- EDI (X.435) support for industrial grade Electronic Data Interchange Applications and Value Added Network (VAN) organisations
- High functionality X.400 to SMTP ("Internet Mail") and SMTP/MIME gateway support
- Continued supply of reliable, scalable, robust infrastructure products for national and international scale ADMD/PRMD and VAN services
In summary, NET-TEL is providing a strong response to market forces, in particular, by providing a consistent strategy for information products, the Universal Information Server, Universal Information Client, MAPI/SPI Desktop Enabler, WebMail and WebDir.
The MAPI/SPI Desktop Enabler enables a 32-bit Windows (95/NT) desktop to deliver seamless access to a Windows NT or UNIX based Route400 messaging backbone to any conformant MAPI/SPI client or mail-enabled application, including calendaring/scheduling, workflow and groupware clients.
The Universal Information Client is a native 32-bit MAPI/SPI OLE client that can operate in conjunction with any MAPI Service Provider, delivering a universal desktop (or mobile laptop) client capable of handling e-mail, fax and voice messages in addition to providing support for collaborative/groupware functions. Used in conjunction with the NET-TEL Service Provider, this enables value added services within the Windows NT or UNIX based NET-TEL messaging backbone.
WebMail provides consistent access to a user's message store using any web browser, delivering a richness of service across the wide range of browser supported operating platforms. WebDir delivers equivalent browser based access to an enterprise directory.
The Universal Information Server comprises an appropriate packaging of optional messaging, directory, web/ftp (third party) and news servers to meet specific client needs, providing a secure, reliable, scalable, highly interoperable messaging, calendaring/scheduling and workflow backbone transport in conjunction with information publishing, eCommerce and collaborative/groupware services.
This strategy not only responds to the individual market forces but this is done in a manner that provides a coherent range of products encompassing the majority of current information technologies. NET-TEL is fully committed to these markets and will evolve its products to exceed the perceived market requirements.
Back to Part 4: NET-TEL's Product Road Map
Forward to Appendix 1: Available technologies, their application and challenges
