EmergingSoft Corporation announced the release of MeetingPlanner for Outlook, a new add-on to Microsoft Outlook Calendar and Exchange. MeetingPlanner for Outlook is an integrated Outlook compatible application that enables scheduling of meetings and facility services across the enterprise.

Federal Computing World says in this article that government agencies will be tempted by the integration possible using Groove Workspace 2.5. This release of the Groove collaboration solution offers increased integration with Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft SharePoint. With Groove Workspace you can also create collaboration environments from within Lotus Notes and Microsoft Outlook.

GFI has launched a new version of GFI FAXmaker for Networks/ SMTP, 11. Version 11’s main new feature is its built-in SMS gateway that enables network users to send SMS messages from their desktop. GFI FAXmaker for Networks/SMTP 11 supports Windows Server 2003, and also includes the capability for users to receive faxes in PDF format.

CrystalGraphics announced the release of PowerPlugs: Stationery. This product includes a set of email stationery and a companion plug-in developed specifically for previewing and selecting stationery from within Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express. CrystalGraphics currently offers seven volumes of electronic stationery, organized by theme, for your personal or business message.

Sybari Software and Realtimepublishers announced that Sybari will sponsor the new eBook The Administrator Shortcut Guide to Email Protection. The eBook is authored by Paul Robichaux and will give administrators information to help properly protect corporate messaging systems from a wide variety of external and internal security threats.

CRN reports that Oracle Collaboration Suite Release 2 was released without instant messaging, but that realtime feature will be delivered in yet another upgrade during the first half of 2004. Like the first release, the upgrade allows users to use the Microsoft Outlook client to the collaboration services. It offers a new flashback recovery that allows Outlook users to recover deleted messages without an administrator. It also features enhanced resource scheduling and a standard-based SyncML server for Oracle Calendar that supports mobile devices.

Antivirus company TruSecure is warning users about a new email worm that is beginning to spread on the Internet and over the Kazaa peer-to-peer network. PC World reports that the new worm, dubbed Gruel, is a mass-mailing worm that looks like a Windows software patch from Microsoft and as a virus-removal tool from Symantec. Like other mass-mailing worms, Gruel spreads by stealing email addresses from an infected computer’s Microsoft Outlook address book and mailing copies of itself to those addresses.

ComputerWorld reports that Microsoft will supply software for both desktops and servers within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The department will install products such as Windows XP, Office XP, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Exchange and Windows Server 2003.

Computer Associates announced at CA World a broad alliance with Sony to integrate and jointly market CA BrightStor storage management software with Sony’s PetaSite and StorStation hardware. eWeek reports that CA also announced Version 10 of its flagship BrightStor ARCserve Backup software, which adds Advanced Application Disaster Recovery functions intended to reduce recovery time for Windows system crashes. The new release initially supports Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Exchange Server.

Destination CRM reports that Surado Solutions announced the release of its Surado Enterprise Integration for Microsoft Exchange. The product synchronizes Surado Enterprise CRM Solution and Microsoft Exchange Server 2000, according to Surado. By synchronizing, history activities are automatically created from email messages sent and received using Exchange, as well as synchronizing Outlook calendar events and contact records.