OpenText deepened the integration between its social platform and enterprise content management software, announcing availability of the new version at the Enterprise 2.0 conference in Boston, a UBM TechWeb event.

Enterprise 2.0

OpenText Social Workspace 2.0 adds microblogging and chat features to the social platform, which is built primarily around interest groups and project collaboration. OpenText customers will also have the option of creating a social connection with OpenText ECM Suite 2010, associating social profiles, and communication with documents in the repository. While integration with the content repository is not entirely new it is "much deeper and richer" with this release, said Debra Louison-Lavoy, director of social media product marketing for OpenText.

The ECM integration also means content from OpenText social communities can be automatically archived through the same records management approach OpenText provides for other kinds of content, the company said.

The OpenText Social Workspace is available as either enterprise installed or cloud software. The cloud version played a role in a social network for the G-20, which was the topic of an Enterprise 2.0 keynote presentation by Tyler Knowlton of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade for Canada.

Originally known for its search technology, OpenText has evolved into a creator of software for enterprise content management, particularly for organizations with compliance control and legal data discovery requirements. This week's announcement follows a series of social upgrades to the OpenText portal software announced earlier this year.

OpenText also announced a contest for the best "purpose-driven business" story, which it said will "celebrate those teams and individuals who show innovation and dedication to the pursuit and achievement of organizational purpose." The prize is $10,000 to the charity of the winner's choice. The prize is tied to a purpose-driven business speaking program OpenText announced, featuring Simon Sinek, Michael Edson, John Seely Brown, and Andrew McAfee, with the speakers to serve as the contest judges.

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