Content Software Technology: Microsoft Office System 2003
The introduction of Microsoft Office 2003 has generated a great deal of interest in the Information Content Industry. Office has evolved from a suite of productivity applications to an enterprise platform with great potential for building 'digital workspaces' and fulfilling the promise of content integration. This Briefing provides an overview of the products that comprise Office System 2003, with particular attention given to its integration of XML and rights management support, integration with SharePoint for collaboration, and the addition of the Research Task Pane that enables access to external content from within Office applications. Several examples of potential implementations will give readers a good idea of the concrete changes that Office System 2003 can bring about. The Briefing also describes Microsoft's partnership strategy, which will bring dozens of technology and content partners into the fold. For content deployment professionals, this is an excellent introduction to the capabilities of Office System 2003 and the ways it will impact the dissemination and use of content in their organizations. For commercial content vendors, the Briefing describes what may be a do-or-die decision to move to XML and Web services in order to position themselves to take advantage of this new environment, develop role-based products, and enter the small and mid-sized business (SMB) market. For Content Software Technology (CST) vendors, the Briefing outlines potential strategies for taking advantage of Microsoft's partnership program and providing the capabilities that Microsoft is not providing.
