The GroupWise Post Office Agent supports IMAP and SOAP access to user mailboxes, in addition to the native client.

The GroupWise Internet Agent provides SMTP communication to other email systems, and also supports IMAP, POP3, SOAP, and iCalendar access to user mailboxes and data.

[1] The platform has included instant messaging since the GroupWise 6.5 release, specifically targeted at the corporate market with features such as directory integration and encryption.

[2] In addition to the Windows, Linux, and Mac clients provided by Novell, the protocol is supported by Gossip, iChat, and multiprotocol applications such as Kopete, Pidgin, and Adium.

The product was developed by WordPerfect Corporation in conjunction with some of its largest customers, including the US Department of Justice, as well as with the programming input of some individual system administrators of smaller government agencies, like Eliot Lanes.

GroupWise 4.1, the first Novell release, debuted in 1994, adding NLMs (Netware Loadable Modules) and gateways to offer extensive back-end capabilities.

Other new features included World Wide Web links in objects, the ability for third-party developers to create and maintain items, tighter Netware integration and management, SNMP capabilities, live maintenance without the need to shut down the server, an integrated listserver, and the ability to access the system remotely via touch-tone telephone.

Version 5.2 added extensive Internet functionality in 1997, including IMAP4, LDAP, POP3, embedded URLs and native TCP/IP.

In August 2011, Novell Data Synchronizer Mobility Pack 1.2 released, offering HTML support for Apple devices and increased scalability.

Updates to this version of the product between late 2011 and mid-2012 have offered additional performance and quality enhancements and new capabilities such as administrator-controlled device limits.

It offers enhanced mobile support through new Web-based iPad templates and a wholly revamped WebAccess interface, social collaboration capabilities via integrations with Novell Vibe and Skype.

On the administrator side a fully redesigned admin console with improved user/device synchronization status views, a monitoring dashboard, email alert notifications and expanded the user authentication to also include GroupWise as the back end along with the previous LDAP support.