IBM Community Tools to link iSeries sites

IBM is working to make its alternative for migrating HP 3000 sites, the iSeries, a better-connected community. Last month the vendor released free, PC-based messaging software called IBM Community Tools, an application suite of community-based problem-solving tools for rapidly exchanging knowledge and technical skills. IBM wants to rely on the 50,000-member iSeries Nation, an Internet-based user group, to gain acceptance for the software and to build its value as a collaboration device.

The software includes SkillTap, which can instantly broadcast questions to the community’s online subscribers who have downloaded and installed the software on their PCs; FreeJam, to hold just-in-time discussions with community members; PollCast, to instantly poll the community on hot topics and receive anonymous real-time survey results; TeamRing, to create instant Web presentations; w3alert, to send instant alerts to community members, with optional hot links to Internet pages; and Question Search, which can search multiple knowledge bases in parallel for answers to questions before asking the community for help.

The Community Tools were developed by IBM’s WebAhead team, a group of application software developers dedicated to using Internet technology. The applications are hosted on an IBM eServer iSeries 820. New iSeries General Manager Al Zollar rolled out the software at IBM’s annual PartnerWorld conference. The tools are available for public use at community.ngi.ibm.com