oneDrum Enables Real-Time Collaboration on Microsoft Office Files With its P2P Desktop Application

STIRLING, Scotland, November 1, 2011 -

The only application that allows users to securely co-author, file share and interact in real time on Microsoft Office documents

oneDrum, a UK-based software development company, today launched its intuitive peer-to-peer (P2P) desktop application that lets users securely co-author, file-share and interact in real time on Microsoft Office applications.

Inspired by the concept of a networked application that could reduce the cost and friction associated with true collaboration, oneDrum was developed to respond to the needs of the modern, mobile information worker. The application brings Google Docs functionality and more to Microsoft Office documents, with edits appearing in real time when working online, while offline edits synchronize effortlessly when connectivity is re-established.

Allowing users to work in their native Microsoft Office application environment, oneDrum takes the compromise out of collaboration and is the only application that lets users have shared documents on hand, and up to date, at every moment. This all takes place using a simple and complete security model that combines user authentication, network security and data encryption to ensure that all aspects of the collaboration process are secure.

“Our goal has always been to reset people’s understanding both of what a networked application is, and how it should be built,” said Jasper Westaway, chief executive officer and founder. “We designed oneDrum to be insanely powerful and with as few compromises as possible. Users want files to be accessible and editable offline whilst co-authoring, file sharing and chat messaging are all experiences that people have become accustomed to and need for productivity.”

oneDrum is written in Java, allowing the application to support multiple operating systems. The software supports all versions of Microsoft Office in a Windows environment. Mac for oneDrum will launch in beta in Q4 2011. File system integration for Mac will arrive this year, while integration with Mac Office will arrive in the first half of 2012.

The next phase of cloud computing will need to adopt a hybrid model that straddles data centers and user devices and applications more effectively, and oneDrum offers this. oneDrum’s peer-to-peer technology is resilient, totally secure, and scalable to any size of business. Its advantage over cloud-based solutions is its immediate scalability and inherent resilience.

Vectored transformation is the technology underpinning oneDrum and the key to its unique approach. It is the mechanism that ensures that when multiple people or devices are changing data, everyone has access to and can edit that data, and that the data eventually becomes consistent across all nodes.

Up until this point, most collaboration has been done using email and attachments. oneDrum offers dramatic efficiency over email attachments because the latest version of the document is always accessible to all collaborators, changes occur in real time, users can see what edits are happening and when, and it offers the ability to chat within the oneDrum platform with others working on a file.

“In general, email looks like it helps collaboration, because it helps people communicate and pass files around,” said Westaway. “In fact, it’s a huge problem. Email results in proliferating legacy copies of files and users are generally operating outside of any kind of structured workflow. Receiving five versions of a document and having to merge, edit, assess and audit everyone’s input is classic document collaboration hell.”

Product availability

oneDrum can be accessed through www.onedrum.com. The software supports all versions of Microsoft Office in a Windows environment and a Mac version will be launched in beta in Q4 2011. Future plans include the development of an application programming interface (API) and software development kit (SDK) to allow users to customize any application they are developing or upgrading to enable it to become collaborative. In February 2012, a premium, subscription-based version will be released providing a variety of extra features such as backup to the cloud and a self-hosted enterprise option.

About oneDrum

oneDrum is a software-development company that is creating a unique collaboration engine that at present includes an intuitive peer-to-peer desktop application that brings Google Docs functionality and more to Microsoft Office applications. oneDrum is a simple yet highly effective tool that boosts workplace productivity by enabling seamless social collaboration on documents between colleagues. Allowing users to work in their native Microsoft Office application environment, oneDrum takes the compromise out of collaboration and is the only application that lets users have shared documents on-hand, and up-to-date, at every moment. For more information, please visit: www.onedrum.com.

oneDrum and its associated logo are trademarks of Quolos Limited and are the subject of trademark applications or registrations in various countries around the world. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Some features available only in the Enterprise Edition. Speak to our sales team on +44(0)845-018-1002 for more information

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inmedia Public Relations
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@lindaforrest

Alayne Martell
inmedia Public Relations
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