Enterprise search vendor Recommind today announced a new SharePoint specific module for their Decisiv Search product, called "Content Delivery for SharePoint". On the face of it, the features seem sensible enough -- allowing federation of external sources to be searched for and displayed within SharePoint Web Parts -- but still could leave customers thinking, "Hang on, isn't that what Microsoft bought FAST to bring to SharePoint?"

This reminded me that at the recent European Enterprise Search Summit in London, amongst the various implementation case studies presented, were some clunking great reminders that not all is well in the world of "FAST for SharePoint" (F4SP). "Rarely sufficient out-of-the-box", "available features often don't turn out to be sufficient when put to the test," and one that sings from the well-worn RSG hymnsheet, "it is vital to inspect features against real business scenarios." These are quotes not from competitors to Microsoft, but their own implementation partners.

Given this sort of chatter and against the backdrop of SharePoint's continued domination of many enterprises, Recommind is reversing the strategy followed by those who previously lived largely in the surrounding SharePoint ecosystem (such as Coveo) to slow back out and find new, non-SharePoint routes to market. 

As a SharePoint customer, it is worth noting that the world beyond the standard SharePoint repository search does not begin and end with F4SP. That route to enterprise search -- even if you are partly licensed to use Fast -- should be investigated carefully with regard to your business scenarios, as it is likely to be both complex and expensive to implement. 

You'll learn there are alternatives out there that could meet your requirements that don't necessarily come with Microsoft on the box.