I first wrote about the Beta version of Xobni back in May 2008 and I recently read on their blog Xobni has emerged from Beta status with version 1.7 publicly available. Xobni is an add-in for Outlook which adds some really useful functionality and performance improvements (you can view the demo video at the end of the post).

Xobni has also secured funding from Cisco Systems and BlackBerry Partners Fund – they have come a long way since their inception back in the spring of 2006 and it looks like they have even more exciting times ahead.

More details are contained on the full press release: PRESS RELEASE: Xobni Opens Beta to Public.

Xobni has some really useful features including:

• Fast searching through emails
• Handy locating of attachments send to communication partners
• Find related communication partners
• Analyse communication frequency
• Instant access for profiles on Facebook, LinkedIn, Hoovers, and Skype

Some of the features of the new v1.7 include:

• Faster start up time in Outlook
• Other speed improvements in Xobni
• Finer grained indexing control
• More user control

Xobni installs as a handy sidebar into Outlook providing a number of sections showing the search bar, contact and related profile information, related contacts, conversation thread and a list of files exchanged, as shown in the image below.

Watch out for the new hidden feature which should appear in the next few weeks, if you spot it let me know!

You can read more about, and download, Xobni on their website at http://www.xobni.com/

Further reading about Xobni

• Telegraph: Review: Xobni free email manager
• Boston Globe: E-mail add-ons can tame even the peskiest inbox
• BusinessWeek: Will Xobni Help BlackBerry Take On the iPhone?
• CNET Webware: Xobni takes in funding, exits beta
• IT PRO: Email is the new smoking
• VentureBeat: Email startup Xobni leaves beta, raises $3.2M
• ReadWriteWeb: Xobni Leaves Beta, Adds Features, Takes in Funding
• Download Squad: Xobni drops beta, organizes your Outlook info faster
• San Jose Mercury News: Like it? Pixazza helps you find it and buy it online
• Wall Street Journal: Startups Juggle Platforms, Prioritization
• VentureWire: Making Sense of Email

Xobni Demo Video