IBM's Lotus software group launched its Lotusphere user show in
Orlando yesterday with a flurry of announcements about upcoming
products.
Heading the list is a still-unnamed e-mail system aimed at
corporate customers who are not seeking a full messaging suite such
as Lotus Notes.
The Java-based software will take advantage of technologies across
IBM's portfolio, including its DB2 database, portal framework and
mobile-access features. It is now in beta testing and is scheduled
to ship during the second quarter. Lotus vice-president of
messaging and advanced collaboration Ken Bisconti said the price
tag would beround $5 to $10 per user, per month.
IBM also revealed plans for an e-learning product to replace its
LearningSpace training software. The IBM Lotus Learning Management
System is intended as an end-to-end e-learning platform, with a
range of content delivery and management options and connections to
other enterprise software such as enterprise resource planning,
customer relationship management and human resources systems.
IBM will continue to support LearningSpace, but will steer new
customers towards the Lotus Learning Management System.
The system runs on IBM pSeries servers (running IBM's AIX operating
system), Microsoft Windows NT/2000, Linux on Intel processors, and
Sun's Solaris operating system. Supported databases include IBM's
DB2, Oracle and SQL. An English version of the software will be out
late February, with other languages following in the next few
months. The software will be available through Lotus resellers, at
a suggested price of around $60 per user.
IBM said it would continue to integrate its portfolio with
technology from throughout its software group.
New collaboration capabilities will be included in the next version
of IBM's WebSphere Portal software, based on Lotus technology,
allowing users to work with applications such as corporate white
pages, organisational charts, instant messages and team workplace.
Users will be able to search for colleagues throughout
organisational directories and initiate contact via instant
messaging, or track from their portal interface and interact with
workplaces to which they belong.
Also on the integration front, IBM was preparing to release the IBM
Lotus Domino Toolkit for WebSphere Studio. The kit will make it
easier for developers using WebSphere Studio to build Domino
capabilities into their applications, and will be available as a
free download from IBM's Web site. A beta version is available now
at
www.lotus.com/ldd/beta.
Finally, IBM will release Lotus Sametime Everyplace 3, the latest
version of its mobile instant-messaging software, later this year.
This version will support Pocket PC and Palm OS handhelds.