Groove, Mindjet Partner

Groove Networks, of Beverly, Mass., and Mindjet, of Larkspur, Calif., have
teamed to make collaboration software that helps business teams complete projects faster.

The joint offering combines Groove’s peer-to-peer technology with Mindjet’s visual planning product, MindManager. The software is currently available as a
preview edition. Later this year, new editions, incorporating user feedback, will be released.

“The common goal of our two organizations is to provide people with tools that reflect the way they actually work and think, and to remove barriers to good
collaboration,” said Chris Holmes of Mindjet. “(The preview product) is our first joint step in that direction.”

The new product allows users to:

• Quickly create business maps capturing ideas and thoughts
• Naturally organize information into structured maps
• Link with external data sources, including documents and Web site
• Enrich with images from a comprehensive suite of symbol and codes

Kevin Lucas, with AMR Research, said the new tool will be especially useful in the early stages of project development.

“”(MindMap for Groove) can be used to shape ideas, brainstorm, refine topics, and share the results in a readily understood form,” Lucas said. “Consequently,
mindmaps fit the role of team tool very well.”

Mindjet was founded in 1993 and is privately held.

Groove Networks was started in 1997 by Lotus Notes creator Ray
Ozzie. It has raised nearly $100 million from venture capital firms as well
as by Microsoft .