Novell has announced the availability of Pulse, a real-time collaboration tool based on Google Wave.

The system offers a combination of email, document creation and social networking tools to unite dispersed workforces in one place, using Google Wave to make it secure and robust, according to the companies.

"We designed Google Wave and its open federation protocol to help people collaborate and communicate more efficiently," said Lars Rasmussen, software engineering manager for Google Wave.

"We are very excited to see Novell supporting the Google Wave federation protocol in its innovative Novell Pulse product."

Available via the cloud or as an appliance, Novell Pulse is expected to be released in the first half of next year. Novell said that it will allow groups of people to collaborate on document creation regardless of location, and have digital conversations with multiple people, as well as share web sites, common files and media.

Each user will have one personal email and Google Wave inbox with information relating to their tasks and workgroups, Novell said, while provisioning and permissions can be controlled centrally by an administrator. Presence information and real-time messaging is also included.

"Novell Pulse gives users a single interface for teaming with co-workers and partners in real time, bringing together content from various enterprise and social applications," said Kent Erickson, senior vice president and general manager for workgroup solutions at Novell.

"For the first time, enterprises can tie business controls and security together with real-time collaboration and social networking technologies to improve decision making and work more efficiently across boundaries."