groupware

To be honest, the question is somewhat vague -- "help solve the communication problems between the branches" can cover a lot of territory. However, to get you started:

If you are looking for shared e-mail folders, shared calendars, corporate-wide phonebooks, and third-party fax integration, you should look at GroupWise (http://www.novell.com/groupwise)

If, on the other hand, you are looking for an e-mail server that is easy to configure, internet standards compliant, has very good anti-spam features, has good integration with major anti-virus packages, does simple calendaring, and is compatible with all major internet mail clients, you should look at NetMail (http://www.novell.com/netmail)

Actually, you should look at both, then pick the best fit. There are many organizations that use both products.

HTH