Threads is an exciting new service that will be launched in 2012. It evolved from a system called MRX which was developed at JPY to improve collaboration amongst staff and customers. Over the last 3 years, MRX has been completely re-engineered to provide the scalable service which we call now Threads - built around Cloud computing and Open Source software.

Threads ties together "messages" which have something in common and lets the user view them from the Web. Messages can be emails, telephone calls, instant messages, texts or any type of digital message - although the initial release will support only email messages. Users get total control over which messages they feed into Threads and share with other users and they may access them via a ridiculously easy-to-use web application.

Messages can be ingested from any source - users are not tied to one particular mail system - and its easy to combine messages from several systems. Microsoft Exchange, OS X Mail, Google Mail, etc.

With Threads a user can, for example, see at a glance how a complete project unfolds, from the original enquiry to the final invoice - no matter who is involved. A user can search all company messages for keywords, and get results in real-time - in the middle of a telephone conversation if needs be.

Several things combine to make Threads unique.

1. Threads works across many users. It links together all the messages that have something in common - this could be a job, a project, a person, a company, a sale, anything. Users are often amazed to see how many different colleagues get involved with a project. Information that would otherwise be locked away in a personal email account, becomes visible.
2. Threads has its own special database structure (schema) and methods for finding "things in common". This is important to permit Threads to understand each mail in the context of the customer's business. This is no ordinary database. Its one that has been designed from the ground up to map to almost any existing database. Not only did we design-in the tools to connect existing customer databases, we think many organisations will prefer the Threads database to that which they have already. And it all comes as part of the Threads service.
3. Threads uses artificial intelligence software to help associate mail from new contacts (i.e. those not in the database) with existing customer projects.

The fact that Threads has been designed to run on "Cloud" computers using Open Source software, make it a very simple business proposition. "Cloud" computers and Open Source software require no initial investment. Individuals and organisations can subscribe to Threads with no long-term commitment and without being locked into a fixed number of users. 

Furthermore, since each organisation gets their own dedicated Threads server running on a dedicated "Cloud" computer, there is absolutely no risk of mixing up messages for different subscribers. This provides unparalleled security and privacy.

For collecting voice traffic, Threads was developed using an Open Source VoIP PBX system. While Threads can be configured to work with proprietary VoIP systems, Threads makes a great starting point for companies that want to take the Open Source VoIP route.

Pricing has yet to be decided, but the target is to provide Threads at a cost of approximately £5 per user per month. No contracts and no commitments will be required.

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If you are with a company or organisation with up to 50 staff and you think you might be able to help us test Threads, then mail us using the link above.