Alfresco Releases New Version of ECM Development Platform

May 17, 2006; 04:12 AM
Alfresco Software Inc., the provider of an open source enterprise content management solution, anoounced at JavaOne and AIIM Alfresco 1.3. The latest version, which is 100 percent open source for both the Alfresco Community Network and the Alfresco Enterprise Network, is designed to be a simple, scalable platform for developing true enterprise content management (ECM) applications.

"The Alfresco community has helped us grow and rapidly evolve the platform," said Alfresco Software Chief Technology Officer John Newton. "With this release, we've added a range of important features, such as records management and the ability to more readily configure both the Alfresco client and server--all in a product that's easy for developers to use and build upon."

Alfresco 1.3 offers new features and functions that simplify development of new applications in such areas as Web content management and records compliance, including:

-- Simple server configuration with server-based JavaScript methods and actions, making it possible for even novice programmers to add powerful business logic close to the content for security and reusability.

-- Simple client configuration with an extensible user interface framework, enabling pluggable components to the Alfresco Web client. This makes possible new applications such as task management, AJAX-based tools, blogs, wikis and other application components.

-- Records management capabilities for retention policies, archival, scheduling, timed events and lifecycle actions to provide one of the first open source implementations of records management.

-- Extended validation and integrity tools that allow for strong modeling of content management control requirements, including integrity constraints and time-based actions for deletion, archival or workflow review.

-- The ground-breaking zero-client Microsoft Shared File System interface (CIFS) has been extended to provide direct Web-based access from within Windows Explorer.

These have been shown to deliver 80 percent reduction in development time and reduce upgrade time for customizations to zero. New types of ECM applications can be created with less development resources in a fraction of the time. "We're in the process of building Alfresco to work within our wood division's order management system and looking forward to working with the new feature set, especially those features designed to handle and manage the record systems," said Myron Blaine, IT architect, Boise Cascade. "Also, the fact that the Enterprise Network is now 100 percent open source is a major advantage, as it gives us one code source to work from, as well as bringing more eyes and people working out the details. In the end, we believe it'll lead to a better Alfresco."

Community and Network: 100 Percent Open Source

Both the Alfresco Community Network and Enterprise Network are 100 percent open source, so the same functionality is available across all product lines. Customers have the option of purchasing support, consulting, integration and training through Alfresco. What's more, the Enterprise Network is fully tested for scalability and is released on a quarterly basis, enabling developers and administrators to work within a regular update schedule.

This approach enables the customer to get the benefit of open source in the short-term--low-risk trial with easy access to source code, product details and roadmap--and also in the long-term by having the flexibility to stay with enterprise support or move to a community model with no loss of functionality and no code change requirements.

Pricing and Availability

The Alfresco Community Network 1.3 is available immediately and the Alfresco Enterprise Network 1.3 will be available at the end of May. The Enterprise Edition is priced at $2995 for 20 users per year for the Small Business Network, while the Enterprise Network is $7500 per CPU per year for unlimited users.

About Alfresco Software

Alfresco is the leading open source alternative for enterprise content management. It is the first company to bring the power of open source to the enterprise content management market, enabling unprecedented scale and a much lower total cost of ownership than proprietary systems. Founded by a team of content management veterans that includes the co-founder of Documentum, John Newton, and former COO of Business Objects, John Powell, Alfresco is based in London. For more information, visit www.alfresco.com