Features

JotSpot Upgrades Wiki Capabilities

By Sophia Mayengbam

A new version of JotSpot Wiki software is out in the market which claim to be a better platform than the traditional wikis, which allows users to collaborate on only one kind of information. The JotSpot 2.0 will give freedom to users to collaborate on a variety of information types, including text, calendars, spreadsheets and photo galleries.

The upgraded wiki software has various features such as users can configure the color scheme of their wikis and add logos, share calendars, upload and share photos and create links to pages inside and outside the wiki and to documents within the wiki. Also the users have the option of making the pages private or sharing it with invited users. Additionally, a Microsoft lookalike sidebar is featured in the new version to display the applications available.

"The new features in the JotSpot wiki are very well implemented and are a huge leap forward in functionality over traditional wikis," said Eric Matson, Director of Quality Assurance at Zazzle, the Internet's customized products marketplace. "We're looking forward to consolidating our existing, out-dated wiki tools onto one platform powered by JotSpot."

JotSpot said it has published APIs for all application functionality, and is planning to provide documentation for developing themes and integrating with the platform.

Chief Executive Officer Kraus said, "Ultimately, anyone can build a page type. We want people to build and sell applications and integrate into our page type framework." Future enhancements include integrating JotLive with JotSpot, which will allow group editing in real time; a whiteboard page type and email lists.

But of course the new software is not available for free. Pricing for the hosted service is free for five users/maximum of 10 pages; USD 9.95 per month for 10 users and 100 pages; USD 24.95/month for 25 users and 300 pages; USD 69.95/month for unlimited users and 1000 pages; and USD 99.95/month for unlimited users and unlimited pages.

However, there is a catch. Nicholas Carr said that the strongest selling point for web services is simplicity and the community-managed wikis can become confusing. Carr said, "Adding in a welter of additional applications raises the complexity quotient significantly, undermining the appeal of the service. A confused user is a non-user."


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