Peter O´Kelly: Lotusphere 2005 impressions

January 31 2005

Peter O'Kelly did eventually make it to Lotusphere:

IBM is playing offense rather than defense in communication/collaboration market segments -- for the first time in a long time. IBM Lotus had some serious product line positioning challenges during the last few years, awkwardly trying to balance the Notes/Domino/Sametime base with the Java/WebSphere/DB2/etc. next-generation product line that's now called IBM Workplace. It's clear that Notes/Domino/Sametime are going to be vibrant for the foreseeable future (a significant change from circa 2002) and will usefully complement Workplace, while Workplace will be an attractive option for enterprises that haven't gone with Notes/Domino/Sametime but seek a competitive alternative (which also runs on multiple platforms etc.) to Microsoft's Exchange/SharePoint/Live Meeting/Live Communications/Windows Server System.
Peter's first observation (bolded above) is interesting -- he and I never discussed this prior to Lotusphere, yet it was also the opening assertion of my STR109 presentation.
Go read the rest @ Reality Check >

Ed Brill | Highland Park, IL USA Category:  Lotusphere 05  Add/View Comments [3]

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  1. 1  Randall Shimizu  | 1/31/2005 11:52:04 PM

    There is some statements seem to validate Peter O'Kelly's point. Ambju Goyal committed to deploying role based Workplaces to half of IBM's employees by the end of this years. Now this means that Workplace optimization will become a top priority for IBM.

    Now that Microsoft has changed it's Exchange plans once again it opens a opportunity for IBM and it's partners. But the big issue once again is if Lotus refines it's marketing.

  1. 2  AJP  | 2/1/2005 10:34:27 AM

    Just seen this in Infoconomy.com thought you eould be interested.

    { Link }

  1. 3  long time notes coward  | 2/1/2005 12:57:38 PM

    I have never understood this "Notes is dead" theme. It is such an old song. Goes back to the first release of Exchange (hahaha), the rise of the Internet and the popularity of open standards. The technology that finally kills Notes/Domino is going to take us all by surprize, and be "something totally different".

    My take on the "mixed-message" from IBM concerning the Workplace/WebSphere, is twofold.

    1. MS FUD press using every opportunity to distort the message.

    2. Notes/Domino developers worried about job security (read DB2 back end, tie-in with WebSphere).

    I think people are finally realizing the vision IBM had two years back. Today it looks like we are kicking MS ass, and as long as we are doing that, Notes/Domino developers have nothing to worry about.