SOKRATES® Communicator has a state-of-the-art multi-tier architecture with distributed components:
The Client module is a "genuine" application, a so-called Rich Internet Application (RIA): It is internet-based application which runs without a browser. It is therefore not limited to the browser's graphical restrictions and is absolutely safe of all browser-based security holes.

Some advantages of Rich Internet Applications:

• Availability of important user interface elements like drag&drop
• Access to system resources
• Particularely tight interfaces to third-party applications, e.g. office applications
• Superior performance and security

The Client software communicates with an Internet Application Server software, which is typically installed somewhere in a Data Center, together with a database. The SOKRATES® Application Server runs as a service (SaaS) and matches perfectly in today's Service Oriented Architectures (SOA). It does not require any additional web servers or middleware components, which makes it fast and safe.
The SOKRATES® Application Server has been constructed for optimal performance and scalability: Its linearily scaleable, multi-tenant architecture performs equally well for large or small businesses. Load-Balancing, multi-threading, multi-processor, fail-over, etc. are keywords which stand for a reliable application server architecture.

Most of today's applications force you to choose between your local applications or web-based systems. We believe you should be able to pick the best from both worlds: Continue using your favourite word-processor, your favourite email client etc., but make their data and documents accessible from anywhere in the world.

The most natural way for you to find your data is by starting at a contact or project it belongs to: SOKRATES® Communicator is the client software which will enable you to do this. It is running as a real application on your workstation ("Rich Internet Client"). This technology has many advantages compared to a browser-based solution: speed, security, browser-independence, drag&drop, powerful user interface and many more. The download and installation is done in less than three minutes (at 1 MBit/s bandwith).

The "brain" of the system is the SOKRATES® Application Server. It communicates with the client using secured internet protocols. Besides of providing all kind of home and business functionality and maintaining your contact and project data centrally, it stores documents and data from your (and your colleagues') local applications: emails, text documents, URLs, pictures and much more... Everything is stored in one of several supported standard SQL databases.

You can choose between three different installation types: "Local Computer", "Hosted" or "In-House Data Center".

Keep it simple! If you want to use SOKRATES® alone, at home or if you just want to try it: The quick local installation runs on your notebook and contains everything including the database. You can even work without internet access.
This is the only installation type supported for the PERSONAL EDITION.

If you want a plug-and-play solution, need multi-user support or want access from the internet, the "hosted" installation is right for you and your team or enterprise: Download the SOKRATES® & Communicator client, register and start working! You can share data, emails, contacts etc. immediately.
Your client software will work with a SOKRATES® Application Server hosted by us in a high-performance data center. We use state-of-the-art technology (multi-tenant SaaS Software as a Service architecture) and SSL-secured communication. Fail-over technologies, multi-threading, load-balancing, automated backups and more guarantee a high performance and reliability. You even can synchronize your projects and contacts with other systems installed locally.
Hosting is available for TEAM EDITION and BUSINESS EDITION.

You need access to your data within your LAN and over the internet, but you prefer to keep everything in your own data center? No problem! Just install one or more SOKRATES® Application Servers on your own server.
In-House installation is available for TEAM EDITION and BUSINESS EDITION.