Re: Time to communicate

[Adrian Robert]

On Oct 4, 2005, at 5:56 AM, Dennis Leeuw wrote:

> The problem at my work is the enormous amount of communication  
> means people want to use: Chat, mail, shared calendar, VoIP, video  
> conferencing etc.
>
> We as the IT team have a very hard time maintaining security, apps  
> and the like just to keep the users happy (note: this is a social  
> company, so the word 'no' does not exist).
>
> While GNUstep already has GNUmail, TalkSoup, a calendar and  
> Addresses it would be nice if it could be turned into a suite with  
> a VoIP app and some video conferencing abilities.
> ...
> But the point is if I could propose a system that has integrated  
> the features needed by our users, in a secure way (irc and not msn,  
> iax and not rtp, GNUmail and not outlook, etc.) that would help a lot.
>
> One single communication suite which can be highly integrated (e- 
> mail address for e-mail and VoIP, E-mail with appointment connected  
> to calendar, contact info in Addresses linked to everything, etc.)  
> then I think I could sell it in the organisation. First GNUstep +  
> suite on Windows and who knows.

This is a noble goal, however even aside from the basic work for  
GNUstep-on-Windows (anyone gotten Emacs.app running there, BTW? ;)  
don't underestimate the amount of work needed to bring existing apps  
up to a professional level.  For example, even in the relatively huge  
Gnome project with Ximian pumping in venture capital, they had to  
practically kill themselves to deliver Evolution.  Those necessary  
things in business environments like MS Exchange compatibility take a  
lot of effort.

Now, maybe if you can sell an in-house development team on the idea  
of just doing hardening work on existing GNUstep apps _without_  
adding new features...