Tech legend takes on Microsoft

Tuesday, November 12, 2002 Posted: 10:18 AM EST (1518 GMT)

SAN FRANCISCO, California (AP) -- Mitch Kapor, the software pioneer who introduced such trailblazing products as Lotus' Notes, Agenda and 1-2-3 spreadsheet, is back for another battle with mighty Microsoft Corp.

Kapor's latest effort, an open-source "interpersonal" information manager, has been under development for more than a year but doesn't yet exist. Yet already there are expectations it could challenge Outlook, the industry heavyweight.

"The average PC user doesn't have a desktop environment that lets you share information," says Kapor. The new project, code-named "Chandler", would let people share what they want with whom they wish -- co-workers, relatives, friends.

Involved with Kapor is a strong nucleus of developers in the Bay area that includes Andy Hertzfeld, who produced much of the Mac operating system. Others are less well-known, but Kapor says "stay tuned, it's early yet."

Kapor, 52, and the coders meet at least weekly, fine-tuning software that would enable easy organizing for individuals and groups of e-mail, appointment calendars, schedules and contact lists.

"It's reviving the spirit of Agenda but in a modern framework," said Kapor, who co-founded Lotus Development Corp. almost 20 years ago. Now a dinosaur of the DOS operating system, Agenda had extraordinary flexibility for managing information _ allowing data to be stored across different files and categories.

"Outlook doesn't have that capability even now," said Kapor.

What Microsoft did anticipate was an exploding e-mail market, introducing Outlook as its e-mail mainstay. Outlook also performs other integrated information management tasks in coordination with server-based Microsoft Exchange.

Kapor's product takes a different approach, eliminating the need for expensive servers and high-priced system administrators.

"We're not trying simply to make a kinder, gentler Outlook and Exchange Server," he said. "We're trying to push the envelope and create a state-of-the-art product Outlook isn't."

Kapor, whose Lotus spreadsheet was spectacularly successful until Microsoft began chipping away at the user base and Excel became the global standard, says he's not out to make Chandler "an Outlook killer."

"That's really hard. Almost everyone that's tried to do that has died," said Kapor, a longtime Microsoft critic. "It's not about taking away from Microsoft. It's about giving users more options."

Defender of online civil liberties

It's not surprising Kapor would come up with something like Chandler. After all, he co-founded the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which has championed online civil liberties and sought a level playing field in cyberspace.

Kapor describes his nonprofit approach as "social venture investing" where there is a "double bottom line" that measures financial success and social change simultaneously.

As open-source, Chandler's code will of course be available to any developer who wants to build compatible applications. And that's key to challenging Microsoft, which has identified open-source as the No. 1 threat to its business model.

"It's not a good proposition to compete with Microsoft," admitted Kapor, "but when you get something (like Chandler) you have multiple contributors and the product is continually improving."

Chandler's funding does raise eyebrows. Kapor has avoided venture capital and is funding it through his own nonprofit organization, the Open Source Applications Foundation.

"I wouldn't know how to go and raise money to start something like this," he said, "There wasn't an alternative."

Making it 'ready for download'

The foundation received $5 million from Kapor -- enough, he says, to operate for about two years. Meanwhile, he's actively seeking funds for his organization and is receiving some "nibbles" he won't identify.

"We're still vaporware," admits Kapor. "Code for developers will be ready for download by year end. This is the first step in what, if it works out, will be an overall effort requiring five to 10 years of development."

There are other information managers, including Lotus' Notes, Apple's I-Cal and Ximian's Evolution, which was created for Linux and UNIX systems.

But Kapor says Chandler will be more flexible -- running on Windows, Mac and Linux and synchronizing with handhelds running the Palm operating system. He says it won't immediately work with all wireless platforms.

More control to users

Chandler would give individual users more control over functions, says Kapor.

Outlook/Exchange and Lotus users, for example, must have a system administrator set up various preferences the first time, including information-sharing features. In Chandler there will be no third-party involvement -- users would be able to do for themselves everything a systems administrator does.

"It will be easier to use and provide flexibility in creating file categories and other custom-tailored features," said Kapor. "For example, users will be able to overlay information from two different calendars living in separate worlds -- work and family."

Microsoft is watching, but doesn't sound worried.

"We have a lot of respect for Mr. Kapor and welcome any innovations he may bring to the market," said Microsoft Office project manager Simon Marks.

Creating expectations

Interestingly, both Microsoft and Kapor are investors in Groove Networks, which was launched by Notes creator Ray Ozzie and on whose board Kapor sits. The company makes a groupware collaboration product called Groove that, like Chandler, is designed not to require a central administrator.

Kapor knows he's now created some major expectations.

He announced Chandler last month even though he doesn't have a beta release, he said. because "we were afraid it would leak out and get in the rumor mill."

"The public has earned the right to be cynical of announcements not backed by code," he said. "but I'm confident of delivering something valuable."