Infoworld: IBM preps Linux version of Sametime

August 16 2006

There was tons of coverage of this week's announcement of a Linux version of the Lotus Sametime server, and Adam has it all  in two posts on his blog.  One article in particular got my attention....

In June, IBM announced it is building links between Sametime and Microsoft's Outlook, Office and SharePoint applications. The links, slated for early next year, will give users access to Sametime 7.5 functionality from within those Microsoft products, an attempt to lure those users to the IBM system.

In January, IBM announced Sametime 7.5 will be linked with the public IM networks from AOL, Yahoo, and Google, but it apparently couldn't reach an agreement with Microsoft over MSN Messenger. Marshak declined to comment on that issue, but the impasse apparently remains.

Other enhancements due in Sametime 7.5 include a refurbished user interface, improved privacy and security capabilities, embedded VOIP (voice over Internet protocol) functionality and support for the Eclipse open-source application framework.

The Notes-Domino messaging and collaboration system, a sister product to Sametime, already runs on Linux.
It's like you need a scorecard to keep up with all the news out of IBM Lotus in the last few months.  Notes Access for SAP Solutions, Notes/Domino 7.0.2, Notes on Linux, a huge new Sametime 7.5 release, Sametime integration with Office, Sametime server on Linux, early news of Quickplace 8, and beta of Notes "Hannover" (and next Domino) coming soon.  Can it be any clearer how much IBM is investing in Lotus?

Link: Infoworld: IBM preps Linux version of Sametime >

Ed Brill | Category:  Lotus  Add/View Comments [20]

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  1. 1  Dave Harris http://www.wavysworld.com | 8/17/2006 1:07:04 AM

    Ed, this is great stuff, I'll be mentioning just how much is coming out of IBM at our user group meeting tonight

  1. 2  Andy Steven http://www.cycle2max.com | 8/17/2006 1:28:47 AM

    Beta of "Hannover" coming soon, I like that!!

  1. 3  Thomas Schulte  | 8/17/2006 1:51:20 AM

    Yes this is great. And i know that IBM is investing heavily in Domino/Notes/Sametime.

    But from my point of view as a developer there are a lot of open issues (read functions implemented and not fully functional) and they are not going away with they new versions.

    I refused to blog, because i thought that i did not have that much to say. But i think i will change this soon because i want to raise a voice about all those tiny little things that could be better implemented and make life for developers much easiers. If i start this i think i will have a lot to write about for the next two years.

  1. 4  Darren http://www.dadams.co.uk | 8/17/2006 3:00:23 AM

    I know it's a little off-subject (well, 7.0.2 is mentioned) but I've just set up my Notes client, mail box, etc on a USB drive - this is the 'Nomad' functionality coming with Notes 7.0.2. Excellent stuff... and think how useful this could be the next time they ban hand luggage from airplanes and you think better of putting your laptop in your luggage.

    As well as all the innovation Ed mentions, 'Activities' are also on the horizon - and of course Sametime (and Notes, and a load of other stuff) integrate with Activities. Exciting times ;o)

  1. 5  Volker Weber http://vowe.net | 8/17/2006 3:12:27 AM

    They banned USB drives as well and made you throw them away in a trash bin.

  1. 6  Silvia Garcia  | 8/17/2006 3:48:28 AM

    MSN Agreenment ? ;-)

  1. 7  Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 8/17/2006 6:24:35 AM

    @5 but at least I'd be willing to put a USB drive in checked luggage...no way I'd put a laptop in it.

    @6 not exactly a technology/"investment" issue...

  1. 8  Adam Gartenberg http://www.adamgartenberg.com | 8/17/2006 7:04:35 AM

    I think this is the first time I've seen in print a line that refers to Notes/Domino as "a sister product" of Sametime :)

    @6 - Sorry, but all I can do is repeat what David Marshak said in the article - "no comments at this time."

  1. 9  Volker Weber http://vowe.net | 8/17/2006 7:21:02 AM

    Ed, there was no way to get back to your checked luggage. You had to throw the key in the bin.

  1. 10  Volker Weber http://vowe.net | 8/17/2006 7:22:48 AM

    Silvia, you'd be surprised how much money MS wants per user and month for MSN access.

  1. 11  Darren http://www.dadams.co.uk | 8/17/2006 9:24:21 AM

    @5 and @9 - indeed, but each time one of these security alerts happens we grown a little wiser about what we'll do next time. It's true that last week you wouldn't have known that in advance... this week we do. I thought about this issue of not even being allowed a USB drive before I sent a mail out internally, but made the point (as Ed did) that a USB drive is unlikely to get busted as your luggage endures a 10 foot drop and being treated like a space-hopper. Hands up who wants to take the same chance with their laptop?

    I'm not claiming Nomad is right for everyone in every situation, but it's one more option you have next time you travel, and may get you round some restrictions where others get caught out... and that's good enough for me to sing it's praises.

  1. 12  Greg Walrath http://www.univarusa.com | 8/17/2006 10:33:31 AM

    "...and beta of Notes "Hannover" (and next Domino) coming soon"

    What's 'soon'? This quarter, or by the end of the year?

  1. 13  Pedro Quaresma  | 8/17/2006 11:09:46 AM

    @10 Volker, can you disclose the value? Now I'm curious :)

    Regardless of the value, who would have to pay MS? IBM or every customer purchasing ST 7.5 ?

  1. 14  Axel  | 8/17/2006 11:44:36 AM

    I like those reliable guys from eclipse software foundation who make it possible for the lotus folks to build something on top of it.

  1. 15  Volker Weber http://vowe.net | 8/17/2006 1:58:59 PM

    Pedro, I have asked IBM and they are not discussing these things. But I have asked other vendors and they were more open. Still, I don't feel that I should disclose this information.

    With IBM Sametime, you don't have to pay AOL, Google or Yahoo to use this service. It is safe to assume that IBM pays them, but they won't tell. Of course you ARE paying. Sametime licenses. Maybe this is a bet. How many customers will use this gateway to connect to AOL, Google or Yahoo? ;-)

  1. 16  Pedro Quaresma  | 8/18/2006 4:17:27 AM

    @15 I totally understand why you do not disclose the value, was just curious. :)

    Now I just have to wonder: how long until we have all the IM systems interacting together on one side... and MSN alone on the other?

  1. 17  Volker Weber http://vowe.net | 8/18/2006 4:39:47 AM

    Pedro, MSN already interacts with Yahoo. And ICQ with AIM, not surprisingly.

    If you want to true interoperability, you need to use standard protocols like XMPP. A gateway is only needed if you run proprietary protocols. Like the SMTP gateway when the Domino router did not understand SMTP.

  1. 18  Pedro Quaresma  | 8/18/2006 5:25:24 AM

    @17 Yes, but am I so far off imagining a point in time in which all IM systems (or insert some other tech here ;) ) all interoperate together, with the exception of Microsoft's? ;)

  1. 19  Volker Weber http://vowe.net | 8/18/2006 5:55:00 AM

    Yes, you are. Read this press release: { Link } Also, don't forget that REUTERS Messaging runs on MS technology. And this is basically on every investment banker's desk.