Analysis of a dinner
January 24 2006
Last night's primary activity, other than
the JAMFest, was the annual press and analyst dinner. It was a good
evening for both informal conversations and some networking. It was
good to see so many analysts are here -- I spoke with Gartner, Ferris,
and Burton, but missed some of the others around (if the Redmonk chaps
are here, I hope you'll be at the blogging panel today or one of my sessions
tomorrow?). I know for sure that one particular analyst firm seems
to have skipped Lotusphere again this year....
One of the highlights of the evening
was hearing the feedback about the Sametime 7.5 announcements. There's
a big difference between the press/analyst reaction and customer reaction.
Customers are jazzed about the new UI, screen capture and send capability,
voice over IP. Press and analysts are buzzing about the AOL/Yahoo/Google
deals. Haven't quite figured out the difference... I have to say
I expected the interoperability deals to be a bigger buzz myself.
Post a Comment
- 2
Richard G Brown http://gendal.blogspot.com | 1/24/2006 8:43:18 AM
"Customers are jazzed about the new UI, screen capture and send capability, voice over IP. Press and analysts are buzzing about the AOL/Yahoo/Google deals. Haven't quite figured out the difference... I have to say I expected the interoperability deals to be a bigger buzz myself."
I think the breakdown of the excitement can be explained when you consider the perspective that each group brings to the discussion:
Most users think of Sametime as the "IM tool they use at work" and AOL/Google/Yahoo as the "IM tool they use with their friends". The separation has been a logical one and so the technical and legal issues have been less apparent. For such users (and I count myself as one), the great new collaboration possibilities (and nice interface) are what excite me.
From the press/analyst perspective, however, the possibilities that convergence provide are tantalising...
Of course, the truth lies in the middle. When the press play with the tool for real and see how rich the collaboration tools are, they will get more excited by the interface. And vice versa.
- 3
Stuart McIntyre http://macsfacts.blogspot.com | 1/24/2006 8:43:26 AM
To be honest, I've always trumpeted the business benefits of having an internal-only IM system. If you need AIM integration and access to external AIM contacts then use any one of the zillions of AIM clients out there. I would much rather have a secure, managable and scalable internal IM infrastructure than AIM/Yahoo integration capabilities.
Therefore, I'm just really chuffed about the increased investment in Sametime, the new GUI, and the fact I can be genuinely excited about its capabilities and future...
- 4
Ben Rose http://www.jaffacake.net | 1/24/2006 9:00:24 AM
For an analyst in this industry not to attend Lotusphere is a joke.
Without attending Lotusphere how can an analyst possibly expect to be on top of all the latest news and information about this vendor and then report back information to their customers/readers.
Without attending Lotusphere, I wouldn't even write about what went on myself...in fact I didn't { Link }
- 5
Ben Rose http://www.jaffacake.net | 1/24/2006 9:03:11 AM
On the Sametime thing, the UI is the big thing for us too. Usability and looks improvement are useful to everybody but the integration to other networks will be less used.
From a Sarbanes Oxley compliance perspective, we need to ensure we have proper policies and monitoring in place. These things aren't easy, especially when considering external comms but for internal stuff...the UI is great.
- 6
Nathan T. Freeman | 1/24/2006 9:05:27 AM
Is access to those external services going to be proxied through the server? The old Sametime/AIM link was direct from the client, which SUCKED, because you couldn't administer/policy-control it. Nor was there an awareness for a user of internal, protected communications vs. external, public communications.
Oh, and take a tip from Trillian... include your own encryption model over the public networks if the other user is running Sametime. This is an ENORMOUS advantage to security conscious people.
- 7
Max | 1/24/2006 9:09:27 AM
Sametime, is it Lotus Instant Messaging? ;-)
- 8
Max | 1/24/2006 9:15:58 AM
Sorry...just saw this....order restored.
"Craig Hayman, vp for Sametime
His quote:
"We stopped working (sic) on what name it should have, switched it back to Sametime and got back to work on the product""
- 9
stephen o’grady http://www.redmonk.com/sogrady | 1/24/2006 9:19:15 AM
hey ed - i'll be at the blogging panel, but won't be able to stay for the whole thing as i'll be leaving for the airport. if you want to catch up briefly before it, i'll head over there early.
- 10
Ed Brill www.edbrill.com | 1/24/2006 9:24:07 AM
@6 server-based (actually a gateway model)
@9 I'll try to be there early, but I do have a press interview that runs close to that time. I'll hurry every chance I get.
- 11
Graham Chastney http://oak-grove.typepad.com | 1/24/2006 9:46:57 AM
I've said this to a number of IBMers before - the UI is a big issue to customers. It's what they all complain about and it's difficult to get them past it. If you had announced a new Sametime with the same old interface but better connectivity they would have all said "so what". The two together is a bonus.
- 12
Chris Whisonant http://cwhisonant.blogspot.com | 1/24/2006 9:59:25 AM
Just curious as to whether all of the Sametime UI changes and public network connectivity will be available from within the Hannover client for those customers who rely upon the bundled licensing? Would it also be available from DWA? (I know its early in the announcement - just curious)
By the way - the UI and connectivity are both really huge!! Mega kudos to IBM on this dedication to the customers.
From an admin point of view, will the logging of public chats also be available?
- 13
Jerry Glover http://www.jerryglover.com | 1/24/2006 11:16:16 AM
Hey Ed, I was just a little ahead writing about the Sametime connectivity - I wrote on the subject three months ago! { Link } But for good measure, another entry today { Link } and of course, big kudos to IBM for making it happen.
- 14
Ed Brill www.edbrill.com | 1/24/2006 11:24:00 AM
@12 I believe DWA would work since the connectivity is at the back-end, but not sure.
As for IM licensing within Notes in the "Hannover" release, too soon to comment on it in specific. It is a general intention to keep the entitlement at the same level it is today.
- 15
Tim Latta | 1/24/2006 1:08:04 PM
BUZZzzz. From this customer, the UI features are 'catch up' and the interop is the real story. Looking forward to connecting.
- 16
Scott Gentzen http://www.scottandmargo.net | 1/24/2006 1:55:04 PM
I can give my own customer perspective on this one.
Following the aparent trend, I didn't have any interest in the Yahoo/Google/AIM integration as an enterprise customer. Access to the public instant messaging services is forbidden by policy where I work (and have Sametime deployed) so as far as the customer goes, it's a non-feature (kind of like the AIM plugin that Sametime client had til r6.5.1)
As a geek, I appreciate the integration. I just am surprised that orgs allow its use.
The UI changes are a different story because of the wide use of IM clients outside of work. People are used to certain things in their IM clients and having an enterprise ready client that is as feature-rich in the UI as Yahoo/AIM/Google is a big step.
- 17
Rene Pieter http://www.pieter.de | 1/24/2006 2:43:45 PM
I must agree to you. I was amazed to see the new feature in Sametime.
Not only are we jazzed about the UI, we are Jazzed becuse IBM has shown a big commitment to Sametime.. I for one and going to push Sametime again with clients etc..