TheBrain Technologies Corporation announced the immediate availability of BrainEKP 3.0. New features include advanced email integration and instant authoring for one-step knowledge contribution. BrainEKP 3.0 works with any standard e-mail client including Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Notes, and Eudora.

Microsoft and Orange SA announced the launch of the Orange SPV, a Windows Powered Smartphone with 3G services. Launched in Europe, the new Smartphone will have access to a range of Orange and Microsoft applications and services including Photo Messaging, email, calendar, contacts, personal information services, instant messaging, Pocket Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player. 3G Newsroom reports that many of the functions can be synchronized with a Windows-based desktop PC, enabling synchronization with services such as Microsoft Outlook email and calendar software.

Latitude Communications announced that MeetingPlace, previously provided solely as a combined voice and Web product, is now being offered as a standalone Web conferencing solution.

ZDNet reports that Mitch Kapor, co-founder of Lotus Development, is heading up a project to build a free, open-source equivalent of Microsoft Outlook.

iambic announced it has released two versions of iambic Agendus for Windows — iambic Agendus for Windows Standard Edition and iambic Agendus for Windows Professional Edition. The program is compatible with both Palm Desktop and Outlook data.

IT World has more on the first beta release of Office 11. The article says that Microsoft officials will be heavily emphasizing the new suite’s ability to better connect people with each other in order to better collaborate and share data more seamlessly.

Microsoft announced the first beta release of its next version of Microsoft Office, code-named Office 11. With Office 11, the Microsoft Outlook messaging and collaboration client has undergone significant improvements to help people manage the large amount of information that crosses their desktops and to enhance the way they read, prioritize, file and track email. Outlook includes an improved mobile email experience by introducing a new cached email system and intelligent connection settings, Outlook allows mobile workers to get to their email more quickly and transfer between data connections with little or no interruption. Office 11 is scheduled to be available in mid-2003.

AllNetDevices reports that Sharp Electronics and Aether Systems have announced the enterprise version of "Sharp Mobile Services, Unwired by Aether" for the Sharp Zaurus handheld computer. The enterprise version integrates with existing enterprise email systems such as Microsoft Exchange.

Roaring Penguin Software launched CanIt Spam Trap, a spam-control solution that operates on the enterprise mail server, preventing the loss of legitimate email. Based on the MIMEDefang email inspection and manipulation software, CanIt provides a web-based interface to scan quarantined email messages, release legitimate messages and deal with problem email.

Faxport released Version 9.0 of Faxport, which includes new features and is offered in an aggressive upgrade campaign to get users up to date with the latest version. The main new features are support for Microsoft Exchange 2000, Windows and Office XP, Integration with TRANSport, and an enhanced integration with an IP Fax solution managed by OpenFax.