Stalker Software Lines Up CommuniGate Pro Updates

by Alex Woodie

Companies looking for less expensive alternatives to Microsoft Exchange and IBM Domino may want to check out Stalker Software's CommuniGate Pro. Last month, the company rolled out version 4.3 of the product, which brings new encryption and collaboration capabilities. In about a month, Stalker hopes to release the beta of version 5.0, which will bring additional voice over IP (VoIP) and "rich media" conferencing capabilities.

Stalker's CommuniGate Pro covers all the bases when it comes to messaging and groupware, and offers some cutting-edge functionality, too. The software supports the basic SMTP, POP3, and IMAP e-mail standards, features a MAPI connector (for using the CommuniGate Pro server in conjunction with Microsoft Outlook clients), works with an array of major anti-spam and anti-virus products, and runs on more operating systems than you care to shake a stick at, including Windows Server 2003.

Beyond e-mail, Stalker offers add-ons for turning CommuniGate Pro into a groupware server, enabling users to share contact information and collaborate on their calendars. Stalker also sells software that turns CommuniGate Pro into a hub for voice, video, and instant messaging, via the session initiation protocol (SIP). Connecting SIP-enabled devices, such as VoIP phones and PDAs, is an area where Stalker is dedicating a lot of its development energy for version 5.0.

CommuniGate Pro version 4.3, which became available in early May, also includes new SIP features. The release included a new Presence Server component that enables it to communicate with multiple SIP clients, and resolves a common problem that occurs when a single user has more than one SIP device, such as desktop phone and a soft client on his PC.

Having multiple SIP-enabled devices can lead to conflicts when they try to announce their user's presence simultaneously. Stalker says it has addressed the issue by basing its presence functionality on two standards: SIMPLE, which is short for SIP for Instant Messaging, and XCAP (or XML Configuration Access Protocol) standards. Together these protocols will help CommuniGate Pro maintain server-based information about SIP user agents, Stalker says.

CommuniGate Pro version 4.3 also makes it easier for users to encrypt their e-mail, while still complying with "key escrow" laws that require some businesses, government organizations, and hosting companies to enable encrypted e-mail to be intercepted by law-enforcement organizations. The new software lets users encrypt some or all of their e-mail, while designating an escrow key holder that will have access to the encrypted email.

The new encryption capability was implemented through a standard S/MIME public key infrastructure (PKI), and works with Stalker's Web client interface, with Outlook using the CommuniGate Pro MAPI client, and other e-mail clients, including Microsoft's Outlook Express, Entourage and Mozilla Thunderbird.

Originally slated for availability in early March, CommuniGate Pro 4.3 was delayed, and became available in early May. CommuniGate Pro version 5.0, which Stalker originally planned to ship in the early spring, has also been delayed, and now the beta of that product should become available towards the end of June or the beginning of July.

Version 5.0 will make CommuniGate Pro a "more robust media server for conferencing" and enable the product to form the foundation of a "soft PBX system," a spokesperson for Stalker said. Other enhancements Stalker is looking at adding in version 5.0 include: voicemail and auto attendant functionality; conference center capabilities; the integration of SIP to groupware; and EdgeGate Services (advanced rules and filters). A final list of new features has not yet been released.

CommuniGate Pro runs on Windows, Unix, Linux, OS/400, and a range of other operating systems. Pricing starts at $700. For more information, go to www.stalker.com.