SAP to Launch Google Wave Competitor
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SAP is preparing to launch a potential rival to Google Wave. The application, code-named Constellation, is described as a "virtual war room" where co-workers can collaborate in real-time with information aggregated from different data sources.
The cloud-based tool is now in private beta with the code name 12Sprints. The application is being developed by SAP's Business Objects division.
Constellation demonstrates once again how much effort is being placed on cloud-based collaboration platforms that pull in disparate data sources, stitched together into one lightweight environment. What's unique is how these environments are almost separate from the legacy IT infrastructure that at times looks almost antiquated compared to its web-based counterparts in the cloud.
That's the opportunity Google sees with Google Wave, as do other competitors such as PBWorks, MindTouch and a number of other companies looking to bask in the shiny lights of the collaborative universe.
According to IDG, which received a demo of the technology, Constellation works best with five to thirty users. There will be the capability to publish to a wider audience through wikis, Sharepoint and other platforms.
SAP is also working on an on-premise application, but the initial focus is definitely on the cloud. Users will be able to access their enterprise data by tunneling into the app.
For example, buying decisions can be more collaborative as purchasing data can be viewed by a group who can then discuss and make decisions.
Applications like what we see with Constellation illustrate how important it is becoming for the enterprise to become more transparent with its information. Email is a data trap. But voice calls can be the same way. Platforms like Constellation open information to a far larger community.
As part of its offering, SAP will create an application marketplace where developers, for instance, can sell the integrations that they create.
Again, SAP's web-based approach sounds very much like an API integration strategy. SAP maintains they are talking with Google Wave and are eager to see how the products work together.
The question will become how SAP's Constellation will enable developers to pull in all the pieces and how accessible it will be for the average business user.
No pricing has been set for Constellation. A free version is planned. Constellation is expected to launch in the first half of next year.
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You can can see Marge Breya of SAP BusinessObjects do a demo of SAP's 12Sprints/Constellation on the SAP Web 2.0 blog here: http://bit.ly/6c2jbP. But it's not a rival -- it is focused on collaborative decision support, and will be complementary to Google Wave.
I concur with what Timo is saying. This is not a competitor to Google Wave -- it provides a decision support platform that's collaborative in nature and is useful in pulling data from around an enterprise to drive those decisions.
Platforms like Constellation from SAP will without a doubt create a cooperative environment but I am skeptical that there are not competitive forces at play.
I think Google Wave is much open for the community. It will be useless for corporate collaborations after some point of time due to security reasons and other various policies.
Constellation is unique product. Functionally may be the same like Google Wave but it will be definitely different.
I am not sure why the analysts/media keeps referring it to be the competitor to Google Wave. SAP is well entrenched in the enterprise space, while Google needs to go a long way before the Wave is accepted in the enterprise space.
The Constellation is aimed at the Salesforce Chatter and is part of SAP's focus on the cloud where it would be competing with salesforce.com
http://wblg319.blogspot.com/2009/12/saps-plan-overtake-salesforcecom-by.html
@alex - do you think SAP would be so cynical as to show something that's a Wave competitor on the same stage and on the same day as Google and SAP were demonstrating Wave working with a different SAP solution?
Suggest you check this video out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wksRqA8uc8s
Competition is always good. Perhaps it's a sign from the market, that Wave is to be taken more seriously.
The "spin" on this article is pretty funny, I think I'm with Dennis on this one. Constellation isnt a wave competitor, it is in the same class as Software AG AlignSpace.com
http://alignspace.com
which is a fully integrated Enterprise collaboration system in the cloud.
Enterprise collaboration is wholly different from internet style collaboration in that there needs to be a recognition firstly that the Enterprise is made up of frequently competing interests and secondly that integration of collaboration and formal application and business process are extremely important. SAP seems to recognize both and thus this effort deserves the title of "Enterprise 2.0" (whatever that means).
My 2 cents,
Miko
I tried to compile a summary of all available information as of today: http://bit.ly/4VnFOV
Online collaborating and teaching can work, If you have trust and the right tools.
I recently tried http://www.showdocument.com - good app for uploading documents and working on them in real-time.
Most file types are supported and it needs no installation. - andy
Nice but 99% of people do that by exchanging e-mails and they're not going to change their behavior anytime sooner than during the last 20 years since collaboration tools have been around. We discussed this in a previous article on this blog : http://www.readwriteweb.com/enterprise/2009/11/collaborations-is-hot-why-now.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+readwriteenterprise+%28ReadWriteEnterprise%29
So probably these tools need to support some sort of mail space allowing to automatically structure, centralize and share e-mail conversations related to a given business project or issue, while letting people use their usual e-mails or any other communication tools. Will that be the next battle in the collaboration field, SharePoint mail spaces vs. SAP mail spaces vs. Lotus mail spaces vs. Google mail space ?
So probably these tools need to support some sort of mail space allowing to automatically structure, centralize and share e-mail conversations related to a given business project or issue, while letting people use their usual e-mails or any other communication tools. Will that be the next battle in the collaboration field, SharePoint mail spaces vs. SAP mail spaces vs. Lotus mail spaces vs. Google mail space ?
Well that's interesting!Google Wave is a platform with a rich set of open APIs that allow developers to embed waves in other web services and to build extensions that work inside waves.I would like to know more about this.
How could we bilieve that the time of 'Web 3.0' is coming?
Wolfram Alpha just launched, but we don't know what will happen in the search engine world.
It seems that twitter conquers everywhere. But it truly change my life?? NO.
Many widgets come and gone.
Well that's interesting!Google Wave is a platform with a rich set of open APIs that allow developers to embed waves in other web services and to build extensions that work inside waves.I would like to know more about this
So probably these tools need to support some sort of mail space allowing to automatically structure, centralize and share e-mail conversations related to a given business project or issue, while letting people use their usual e-mails or any other communication tools. Will that be the next battle in the collaboration field, SharePoint mail spaces vs. SAP mail spaces vs. Lotus mail spaces vs.
Well that's interesting!Google Wave is a platform with a rich set of open APIs that allow developers to embed waves in other web services and to build extensions that work inside waves.I would like to know more about this
I concur with what Timo is saying. This is not a competitor to Google Wave -- it provides a decision support platform that's collaborative in nature and is useful in pulling data from around an enterprise to drive those decisions.
I think Google Wave is much open for the community. It will be useless for corporate collaborations after some point of time due to security reasons and other various policies.
Constellation is unique product. Functionally may be the same like Google Wave but it will be definitely different.
I am not sure why the analysts/media keeps referring it to be the competitor to Google Wave. SAP is well entrenched in the enterprise space, while Google needs to go a long way before the Wave is accepted in the enterprise space.
The "spin" on this article is pretty funny, I think I'm with Dennis on this one. Constellation isnt a wave competitor, it is in the same class as Software AG AlignSpace.com
Enterprise collaboration is wholly different from internet style collaboration in that there needs to be a recognition firstly that the Enterprise is made up of frequently competing interests and secondly that integration of collaboration and formal application and business process are extremely important.
SAP is also working on an on-premise application, but the initial focus is definitely on the cloud. Users will be able to access their enterprise data by tunneling into the app.
According to IDG, which received a demo of the technology, Constellation works best with five to thirty users. There will be the capability to publish to a wider audience through wikis, Sharepoint and other platforms.
@alex - do you think SAP would be so cynical as to show something that's a Wave competitor on the same stage and on the same day as Google and SAP were demonstrating Wave working with a different SAP solution?