Feature
The new web part is compatible with both SharePoint 2007 and SharePoint 2010 and consists of a single component that can not only pull information from the user-identified sources, but can also post directly to Twitter and RSS feeds without having to leave SharePoint .
And with the dust only settling on this release, Virto has said that it is already planning to complete integration with Facebook in a future version, making it possible to get and post information from SharePoint.
Virto And SharePoint
Virto is one of the many companies that have aligned themselves with the fortunes of Microsoft (news, site) and SharePoint in particular.
Since the first web part for SharePoint was released in April last year, Virto has been building and developing web parts for both SharePoint 2007 and SharePoint 2010, with the current line-up consisting of calendars, alerts, collaboration, workflow and administration capabilities for SharePoint users.
This is not the first time it has developed extended communication capabilities to SharePoint. Last September it extended SharePoint 2007’s workflow capabilities by offering new features including:
- Messaging: Send a tweet to Twitter
- SMS and Instant Messaging: Send messages to GTalk, Jabber or Miranda
- Email: Add list item or HTTP attachment to your email and receive email
SharePoint Aggregators
This time around though, users will be able to display Twitter and RSS information in a single display on SharePoint pages.
Virto SharePoint Twitter/RSS display
With support for the OATH protocol for Twitter -- meaning it does not store users’ Twitter account details or passwords -- the new web part enables administrators determine who will be able to use the aggregator or not.
Users can also customize the look of the display screen using XSL and CSS as well as add to the lists of information sources that they wish to receive data from. Features include:
- Support for RSS 1.0, RSS 2.0 and ATOM feeds
- Single view information aggregation
- Real time feed update using AJAX
- Native Twitter API support and Twitter status control from SharePoint
- Administrator-defined access permissions
The new web part is already available from Vitro and costs US$ 295 per licence/server. Virto is also planning to add support for approvals workflows in upcoming versions that will enable users develop ‘approve’ or 'disapprove' standards for the posts.
