Open Source Blog

"Alfresco Labs 3, formerly called Alfresco Community, offers Microsoft users greater choice," said Alfresco, "by providing them with the first open source fully-compatible SharePoint repository. With Alfresco Labs 3, companies can support existing investments in Linux, Java as well as Microsoft .NET connection software to significantly reduce their SharePoint total cost of ownership and maximize their hardware and software investments."

Microsoft released the SharePoint protocol as part of its compliance with the European Community's anti-trust decision of March 24, 2004.

"With the massive growth of SharePoint, customers are seeking an open alternative that delivers equivalent benefits but with true platform choice," said John Newton, CTO of Alfresco Software. "Alfresco Labs 3 is the first ECM product to implement the SharePoint protocol and provides users with the same access from Microsoft Office, while giving companies the freedom of choice in their hardware, database, operating system, application server and portal products. Customers will experience the best of both worlds providing workers with an easy-to-use content management and collaboration tool that is integrated with Microsoft Office while lowering overall IT costs and increasing return on existing investments."

Alfresco Labs 3 is immediately available for download at http://wiki.alfresco.com/wiki/Alfresco_Labs_3

Alfresco may be the first open source firm to support the protocol, but it's unlikely to be the last. Nuxeo is another open source ECM player I've written bits and pieces about in the past.