Windows SharePoint Services

What Are Windows Sharepoint Services?

As a built-in component of Windows Server 2003, Windows SharePoint Services makes it easy for you to implement a dependable, scalable web based collaboration infrastructure with minimal administrative time and effort.

Previously known as STS (Sharepoint Team Services) it is now referred to as WSS.  The current version is WSS 3.0 . 

What Benefits does WSS give my business?

Windows SharePoint Services helps teams stay connected and productive by providing easy access to the people, documents, and information they need to make more informed decisions and get the job done. 

• Single location for teams to coordinate schedules, organise documents, and participate in discussions—within the intranet or over the extranet.
• Easily author and manage documents, and help to ensure their integrity with enhanced features including the option to require document checkout before editing, the ability to view past revisions and restore to previous versions, and the ability to set document-specific security as well as an inbuilt workflow.
• Keep users on task with a variety of communication features that let users know when actions are required or important changes are made to existing information or documentation, including announcements, sophisticated alerts, surveys, and discussion boards.
• Provide creative forums for brainstorming ideas, building knowledge bases, or simply gathering information in an easy-to-edit format with new templates for implementing blogs and wikis (Web sites that can be quickly edited by team members—no special technical knowledge required).
• Enhanced support for offline synchronization through Outlook 2007.  Users can manage document libraries, lists, calendars, contacts, tasks, and discussion boards when offline, a bit like that old briefcase but a lot better.