Motorola implemented StatusNet, an open-source microblogging platform, to enable better internal communication and collaboration across its business units. StatusNet exceeded expectations by reducing email usage and revolutionizing how information is shared. It allows employees to easily find and discuss relevant information from company events. StatusNet's flexibility as open source software also provided benefits like customization, security on internal servers, and low costs. Its integration into existing systems helped drive widespread adoption across Motorola.

1. StatusNet Motorola Case Study
The Motorola microblogging bird,
Motmot, powered by StatusNet Goodbye email blasts.
Motorola faced an internal communications challenge
Hello, information on demand.
common to all large companies: enabling conversation
and collaboration across business units. Then One unexpected benefit is a reduction in
Motorola’s open-source group offered management company email. “We initially just wanted to
a solution: an implementation of StatusNet called increase social communication and such in
Motmot, named after a family of birds. the company,” says Levy, “As the value became
obvious and usage grew, we decided to leverage
this to reduce corporate email volume.”
An internal communications revolution Now, some of the most subscribed-to StatusNet
Initially, Motorola opted for StatusNet primarily accounts are ones that have been set up to keep
because they could host it on their private servers. But people informed about specific product lines and
StatusNet delivered a lot more. “Many of the usage events. “A lot of people appreciate the ability to
patterns that we see now were not envisioned back monitor, as needed, relevant channels or subject
when we first adopted StatusNet,” says Rami Levy, areas using StatusNet,” says Levy.
Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff and team
leader at Motorola Open Source Technologies. “Overall,
I would definitely say that StatusNet has revolutionized from the event,” says Levy.
our internal social communications.” Motorola’s people are motmoting (yes, it’s a verb too)
from trade shows like CES, and receiving questions and
Making the most of company events comments back from colleagues at the office—all on
StatusNet enables greater visibility for—and their private network. Motorola team members can
participation in—events with company-wide appeal, easily find these conversations, thanks to event-specific
whether internal symposia, or external events like hash tags.
CES. “We realized that now we can expand the
communication of the fact that the event is occurring,
and have people actually start posting about the event
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2. StatusNet Motorola Case Study
Open source and report to them. When the
Motmot icon was added to
unforeseen benefits the main company internal
StatusNet’s many benefits were made portal, StatusNet usage really
possible by the flexibility of open source. took off.
Mark Keisler, Principal Software Engineer at
Motorola Open Source Technologies, says that
StatusNet offered them many advantages Seamless integration,
over microblogging services hosted outside easy user experience
the company:
Now StatusNet is integrated into the internal
• StatusNet “was well-written and easy to company directory. Users can post updates
work with to make any necessary modifi- there and see colleagues’ statuses and friend
cations,” such as customizing the code or lists. It’s so seamless that many people don’t
interface and integrating it with other in- realize that they’re using StatusNet. It’s also
ternal systems like social bookmarking, link easy to use. No formal training was necessary;
shortening and the company directory. the company simply relied on a how-to page,
some basic videos and a FAQ.
• In an industry where secrecy is paramount,
StatusNet allows Motorola to keep microb-
logging conversations secure on their own Motmot’s wings carry
servers.
conversations across
• Using an open-source solution like Status-
Net is highly cost-effective. The software business units
itself is free and a small team of only 3 With StatusNet, there’s increased knowledge
people is sufficient to run all of Motorola’s sharing across the ranks. “There’s been a lot
open-source projects, of which StatusNet is of serendipitous information-sharing,” says
just one. Keisler. Before, Motorola employees with
questions had to rely on personal networks in
Snowball effect: from early the company. Now, StatusNet conversations
are indexed by company-wide search.
adopters to wide-spread use
After a soft launch with a small group of early Motorola finds that having a conversation
adopters, Motorola’s StatusNet usage picked around a link trumps standard social
up steam with mentions in the company’s bookmarking because it provides greater
newsletter and digital signage network. context to social knowledge management.
Work groups started announcing upcoming Looking forward, StatusNet is key in
meetings on StatusNet. Several senior Motorola’s quest to put relevant information
managers adopted it too, creating an influx of in front of people without them having to
yet more new users among the people who search for it.
“StatusNet has revolutionized communications inside Motorola” -Rami Levy
Montreal Office San Francisco Office
StatusNet, Inc. StatusNet, Inc.
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(415) 692-5271
info@status.net