I've thought a lot about this topic, too, but just never had a term to describe it until now. In my previous job, we used GForge ( http://gforge.org ) as a tool to manage partner and customer interactions. The idea was that we'd set up a "private project" for which our employees and the employees of other company. We wouldn't use most of the tools that GForge has, but we'd typically use mailing lists (setting up a business list and a dev list) and sometimes the bug tracker. Even though we were figuratively using a crescent wrench to hammer nails (GForge is really designed for developer collaboration), everyone who used the system was reasonably happy, since prior to using that system, they were using their bare hands. -- Rob