Monday was a big day for Kerio Workspace. A year ago, version 1.0 was just starting to spread with some momentum. But on Monday, a new beta was released showing that it has matured with blistering speed to become a bar-setting example of how social collaboration software should perform in a small or medium business environment.

Email attachment frustrations continue to fuel the adoption of online file sharing alternatives. Email itself has given up some ground to the efficiency of social media. But I have yet to come across any other server software that so gracefully combines both online file sharing and the ability to collaborate in social media style. Take this combination, add in a few new project management tools, a sexy new UI design, more mobile support, antivirus protection, and you've got the new Kerio Workspace 2.0 beta.

File Library Synchronization
It's not always convenient to log into a website to access my files. The new beta allows me to synchronize those files locally. I can make changes to files on my hard drive and they're automatically updated on the server. When other users make changes to my files on the server, the previous version lives on in the revision history while my local copy is updated with the most current version automatically.

New UI Design
Some rounded corners and shadows, a new background, and a few new icons are making a big difference in how we see our content, but more important are the new user profile pictures and the effect they have on the social media atmosphere in Kerio Workspace. Each Comment is now accompanied by the user's profile picture. Clicking on a user's name takes me to their profile page, hinting at the direction Kerio Workspace will be taking in future releases.

Events and Tasks
For the project managers out there, here's another hint about where Kerio Workspace is likely to expand. Two new components are available in this beta: Events and Tasks. They're great tools for managing projects, and they're exactly what I'm already familiar with in my calendar client. "Prove it" you ask? No problem. These components can be synchronized between Kerio Workspace and Outlook, iCal, or any other ICS-compatible client, so any user with access to my Kerio Workspace Page can now have my project timeline in their calendar.

Mobile Management
Smartphone and tablet support is also improving, especially with the iPad. I can now read and post Comments on Spaces and Pages using any smartphone or tablet, but with the iPad, I can even edit text components using the rich text editor.

And more...
I can breathe a little easier when I upload a document to Kerio Workspace because it's now scanned by the optionally built-in Sophos Antivirus engine. I can also find and preview documents a little easier thanks to the improved search and the updated document rendering service.

Ok, enough from me. Head on over to the Kerio Workspace Beta page, read the release notes, and download it. Let me know what you think below!