Announcing Notes/Domino 8.5.1 part 3: Lotus Mobile Connect
October 6 2009
Earlier today, I wrote about significant changes to the way IBM sells Lotus Notes and Domino in blog entries announcing free Domino Designer and the new Client Access License model for Domino. In part three, I'd like to talk about other changes to our licensing and offerings in the Notes/Domino family.
In today's announcement of the new CAL model, one additional feature is the inclusion of the Lotus Mobile Connect client license in the Lotus Domino Enterprise Client Access License. Mobile Connect is a secure VPN solution; if you are a Notes/iNotes Collaboration customer or CEO Communications customer, or buy the new Enterprise CALs, you'll receive entitlement to the Mobile Connect client. All you'll need to buy is the LMC server component to have a complete VPN -- for desktop, browser, and even a client-less option for mobile device users. See how that fits with the new CAL model? We don't care what client you are using, we want to provide you the tools needed to have a complete -- and secure -- collaboration environment.
I also want to reiterate that the biggest value-add today for Notes customers is the free distribution of Domino Designer. Designer costs US$864 at published prices, with a maintenance renewal of over US$200. That value is now available to all Enterprise CAL licensees (at a much lower price point), from the power user to the line of business to the professional programmer. Combined with the Mobile Connect client license, and the ongoing Symphony/Quickr Entry/Sametime Entry entitlements, there is a ton of linked value in the Enterprise CAL.
That concludes my three-part introduction to Notes/Domino 8.5.1 -- and I haven't even talked about the technology yet, from the iPhone support in Traveler to the new Eclipse Lotuscript Editor to the Notes UI improvements to the further enhancements in DAOS. There's plenty of time to cover those; for now, I'd like to thank you for your support and encouragement -- without all your input, for the last many years, my team and I would not have had the confidence to go forward with these game-changing decisions. From your comments today, it appears they were the right ones -- and, of course, we'll have more where those came from.
Post a Comment
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Peter Presnell | 10/6/2009 3:07:58 PM
Great stuff Ed, I am very excited about all today's announcements and the opportunities they present.
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Darren Duke http://blog.darrenduke.net | 10/6/2009 3:13:07 PM
@Ed, LMC is sold by the client and by the PVU, so do you get the same number of PVU's for LMC that you have for Domino? Or is this like ST and Quickr, in that you can have as many LMC servers as you see fit for your environment?
As an aside, LMC is one of the best Lotus products that customers have not heard about. This is very good news, and will be a significant boon to customers once they realize what IBM have just given them.
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Jim Casale http://www.jimcasale.net | 10/6/2009 3:32:02 PM
@4 Oh sure, after I spend a bunch of money on a Cisco VPN ;-)
All kidding aside - well done on all fronts by the entire Lotus team!
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Lisa Duke http://www.simplified-tech.com | 10/6/2009 4:09:05 PM
Very cool! STS has been using LMC internally and it's handy for wandering (and technically challenged) sales reps.
We also have a client who uses this to reconnect the laptops in their police cars to the 911 system as they drive in and out of coverage, and a prospect who wants to use this for clientless "supersecurity" for iNotes. We look forward to implementing this for many more clients!
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Mike Kinder http://www.acadiasolutions.com | 10/6/2009 9:11:54 PM
I really appreciate all the info Ed. Got lots of customers asking when they can have it. Now we know!! Can't wait to get the upgrades going.
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Thilo Hamberger | 10/7/2009 12:55:02 AM
I'd rather have a free EasySync client.
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Marc Bender | 10/7/2009 1:49:06 AM
Really good news. I like to upgrade our servers from 8.0.2 to 8.5.1. But still miss the Sametime Limited for the 8.5 Server. Is there a plan for the release date? So I have to hang on the 8.0.2. Version. Not so pretty :(
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Mark Hughes | 10/7/2009 7:21:10 AM
@9 just because its not supported doesn't mean it will not work, i happen to be running a sametime 8.02 server with the domino portion upgraded to 8.5.1 cd8 and traveler 8.5.1 cd8 all running fine.
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Marc Bender | 10/7/2009 8:50:54 AM
@10 thank for the information. So I will do the update after release in November and press my thumbs on the installation ;)
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Charles Robinson http://www.cubert.net | 10/7/2009 9:23:42 AM
Ed - I've never paid for a VPN client, it's always been bundled with the server (usually a firewall). I guess some customers must find it worthwhile or you wouldn't have it, so kudos for releasing it as a free add-on to a Notes license.
@9 - Sametime 8.5 is slated for release in Q4. That is what was said in the 8.5.1 managed beta forum so that may change. You shouldn't make any plans based on that information.
@10 - I couldn't get 8.0.2 to install on 8.5.1 CD6 or CD8. The installer gives me "IBM Lotus Sametime Server 8.0.2 is not supported on this version of Domino. Consult the Install Guide for more information." This was reported in the 8.5.1 managed beta forum (you commented on the thread). Upgrading Domino underneath Sametime might work, I didn't try that.
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Gerry http://fidax.com | 10/7/2009 9:11:11 PM
Inspired.
You have just eliminated some serious SKU clutter.
Licensing is as simple as you could possibly make it.
As for the free Designer, you must have had a 02:00 moment!! in your sleep one night.
Makes a very compelling case against MS.
Gerry
Bravo Ed. Very well done today. Considering its not even Lotusphere the announcements are very encouraging.