Replace Microsoft Outlook?

Offline access is an active topic for web-based products today. I’m curious what all of you think about how to handle offline email. This has some up in a couple of conversations over last few days and Scalix had an interesting post closely related to the topic yesterday. Say you provide web-based email, BlueTie, Zoho, Load.com, Webmail.us. Many say that people would like very much to have a good Outlook alternative but do you think that companies like those mentioned should focus on high quality, very effective integration with Outlook for offline support or look to develop thier own offline client (which may still work within a browser but offline)?  We’ve got a great community of industry insiders and enthusiasts here at SaaS-a-fras, it would be great to exchange (pun intended) thoughts on this topic.

Slowing Down for the Holiday

Well we’ve reached the bottom of the PR trough with the holiday coming next week. The blogs are slowing down, the only press releases that come out will be the ones they don’t want you to read. Alternatively, who will want to make the first splash of the new year? Who will have the first press release of the year? Zimbra, Zoho, Foldera? I’ll provide what link bait I can for whomever’s first. Just don’t tell Google, otherwise I might have to add a ‘NoFollow’ tag….

 Here are a few other things I’d like to see in 07:

A comprehensive chart of who offers what in terms of applications for business; email, ’word’ documents, spreadsheets, powerpoint, project planning, etc. Any volunteers? You should be able to get a lot of links for something thorough. 

Will storage size stop being used as a product differentiator in 2007? Can someone please do a survey for us and let us know if customers really see this as a key factor?

How many new products will Zoho launch in 07? Raju or Arvind, is there a Zoho Mail coming?

Do those ratios in Nichebot really work? (Keyword campaign in progress.)

Foldera Launch….. Still skeptical Oliver & Dave…. you can send my beta login to catchyaintit [at] yahoo.com  

Who will have a mash up for Goowy first?

Which conference, related to our topics here, is THE one to go to for 2007?

Will the expanded features of products like Zimbra, HyperOffice and others begin to make a serious dent into the Hosted Exchange market? 

What do you think will be interesting with everyone in 2007, basecamp, bluetie, everyone.net, foldera, fusemail, hyperoffice, intermedia.net, load.com, mailsnare, mailstreet, MI8, myoffice.net, norada, runbox, scalix, sherweb, simplicato, solodox, swishmail, thinkfree, usa.net, webmail.us, zimbra, zoho…

What else needs to be covered?

Our visitor stats are growing pretty strong so please help tell your story, provide some thought leadership and expand the dialogue to keep people coming back. We can all benefit from more content, more links and more exposure.

Web 2.0 Product Partnerships

I think this is a very interesting partnership. I wonder if it is a precursor to an eventual merger since the products seem to be such compliments. Or will there be other similar integrations such that you have SugarCRM and your choice of mail products like Zimbra, BlueTie, Fusemail?