It has been a long-time coming but those lovely people at Open Text (previously Hummingbird) have finally woken up, smelled the coffee – and realised the future of document management systems could well lie with Microsoft Sharepoint. Earlier today, at the ILTA event in Florida, Open Text announced plans for an integrated solution with Microsoft software for matter lifecycle management and practice support targeted to law firms worldwide. The new solution will combine Open Text's specialized legal industry expertise in matter lifecycle management and proactive compliance, with the collaboration and document management capabilities of Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007.

"A law firm, like any organization, is looking for new ways to increase productivity and reduce risks," said Brian Zeve, managing director, Microsoft Professional Services Industry Solutions. "We've seen a strong reception for SharePoint Server 2007 in the legal market and Open Text is adding even more value to help customers address the twin concerns of compliance and productivity. By offering Open Text's legal capabilities within SharePoint Server 2007, we'll be able to offer customers the kind of integration they need for a truly comprehensive ECM strategy."