Although the functions of Table 3.1 are available in specific groupware packages such as Lotus Notes and Microsoft Exchange, increasingly general applications such as word processors and spreadsheets have added groupware features. As explained in Chapter 1, applications were traditionally centered around a single user until the early 1990s. With maturity, however, the sophistication of such software has increased and it has become rich in functions for teamwork.

A good example of this is the once humble word processor which was limited to use by single authors. Today the latest offerings from Microsoft, Lotus and Corel all have facilities for teams of people to jointly review and annotate documents, e-mail integration and web access. Table 3.2 shows the way group working functions are incorporated into different types of software. Some groupware applications just provide one function such as e-mail or conferencing, whereas others, such as Lotus Notes, aim to provide a range of functions.