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Xiant will provide "smart" filters for email clients such as Microsoft outlook

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen may be ridiculously rich with a fortune of $10B USD, but like his buddy Bill Gates there's two things that keep him hungry for more.  The first is philanthropy. Like Mr. Gates, Mr. Allen has devoted much to helping those in need.  The second is a love for new technology.

Mr. Allen has launched a new company, driven by that love, that looks to return to his roots, somewhat as well.  The new company, called Xiant, will offer "smart" organization and filtering software for email inboxes, including for Microsoft Outlook, one of the flagship products of the company he founded years before.

The company's first offering will be Xiant Filer, which is compatible with Microsoft Outlook.  You train the new software to automatically drop different kinds of email or emails from specific users into different folders -- for example, "work", "family", "school".  The software aims to make the somewhat daunting task of managing a busy mailbox easier.  Xiant claims that the more you use the software, the more accurate it becomes at predicting your email organizational desires.

Final prices have not yet been disclosed, but a beta version of the software is available here for free.

Chris Purcell, VP of Mr. Allen's Vulcan Technologies investment firm, which is backing Xiant says the software was a pet project of Mr. Allen's that grew into much more.  He states, "Xiant Filer started as a personal project to help Paul keep up with heavy e-mail traffic. It worked so well we all started using it, which led us to take it to market."

He adds that its fitting that the launch be on a Microsoft OS.  He states, "It won't be lost on his former colleagues that Paul has returned to the software world with something that improves on one of Microsoft's keystone products."

Followups are planned to the Outlook release.  States the company, "There are already more tools under development to help computer users be more productive, organized, and better connected with their stuff."

While Xiant's offering may be seen by some as a friendly gesture to Microsoft, the new software will actually bring some friendly competition, sparring with offerings from Microsoft and other smaller startups such as Xobni.  

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Another one?
By DigitalFreak on 6/23/2009 1:33:16 PM , Rating: 3
Isn't Paul Allen the Donald Trump of the tech world? He keeps coming up with these new companies and they ultimately fail.




RE: Another one?
By Bender 123 on 6/23/2009 2:11:49 PM , Rating: 2
Charter exists...technically...like a zombie........Their customer service lines have the same effect as having your brains eaten.

It hasn't completely failed...I guess.


RE: Another one?
By Boze on 6/24/2009 12:20:05 AM , Rating: 1
If he was the Donald Trump of the tech world, his companies would be successful. That's why in one of the worst real estate downturns imaginable, Donald Trump still managed to renovate and create amazing new properties while owing around $1 billion dollars to around 99 different banks.


not needed
By Vaz on 6/23/09, Rating: -1
RE: not needed
By wushuktl on 6/23/2009 11:19:55 AM , Rating: 3
Why would i want a car when my horse does the job just fine?


RE: not needed
By callmeroy on 6/23/2009 11:21:02 AM , Rating: 2
"There are already more tools under development to help computer users be more productive, organized, and better connected with their stuff."

As stated in the article the new company isn't just going to be able this email organizer software - it appears its just their first product.

I do agree , the need for this software to me is non-existent -- but that's because I'm pretty strict on how I create my mail folders, rules and keep my inbox clean. I think the tool is aimed more at the less organized email customer. IE...we aren't the target market.


RE: not needed
By cyriene on 6/23/2009 11:33:42 AM , Rating: 2
Maybe less organized, but I thought it was more for people who receive a LOT of emails. The average Joe might not need this, but someone at work who receives too many emails to go through each day could take advantage of this filtering software.


RE: not needed
By amanojaku on 6/23/2009 11:26:50 AM , Rating: 2
People create filters to block mail. People create rules to sort mail. People have to remember to update rules, or be careful to create them correctly the first time. That's too much work and complication; a system that records your actions in a well-defined manner capable of being "played back" is more efficient. Your mail that gets filtered is handled by the same rule sets that sorts approved mail. The rule sets can be optimized to run more efficiently, and run continuously. They may even become "predictive" by analyzing past actions and extrapolating future ones; this feature is best implemented with user interaction. Reporting would be a necessity, as you would not want to find a client's important items in the trash or bounced back. There are many use cases for a more simplified approach to what we do now.


RE: not needed
By captainpierce on 6/23/2009 1:04:49 PM , Rating: 3
quote:
There are many use cases for a more simplified approach to what we do now.


I agree. Average joes get confused trying to sort through their mail and organize it with filters and rules.


RE: not needed
By Inspector Jihad on 6/23/2009 1:16:43 PM , Rating: 1
it is obviously not for normal use. it's for people who get hundreds maybe thousands of emails a day.


RE: not needed
By schizo on 6/23/2009 9:06:39 PM , Rating: 2
maybe it has capability to compose new email just by reading your thought :P


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