Two IBM Lotus press releases from LinuxWorld: Microsoft-free desktops and Linux-based Foundations servers

August 5 2008

These two press releases just hit the wire...you'll want to read them both, they're much longer than I can quote here.

"The Linux World Builds SMB Market Opportunity With Software Appliances From Lotus Foundations and ISVs":

The new developments include a preconfigured version of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 from Novell in Lotus Foundations and a toolkit that opens new opportunities for Domino software vendors (ISVs) to deliver their applications on a software appliance to the smallest businesses. IBM is also announcing a new strategy -- the ISV Software Appliance Initiative -- designed to enable a wide range of ISVs to deliver Linux software appliances to mid-market customers.

From Novell to local software firms, the Linux community is building a broader market around IBM's new computing appliance, Lotus Foundations Start, girding for the battle to liberate small businesses from Microsoft's proprietary Small Business Server.  ...

Some will also find appealing use of an operating system that eliminates the frequent concerns over glitches, patches, crashes and security that small businesses continually experience with Microsoft Windows. SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 is the first operating system preloaded and preconfigured in Lotus Foundations.

"IBM, Canonical/Ubuntu, Novell, Red Hat to Deliver Microsoft-Free Desktops Worldwide":
For the first time, IBM (NYSE: IBM) and leading Linux distributors Canonical/Ubuntu, Novell and Red Hat will join forces globally with their hardware partners to deliver Microsoft-free personal computing choices with Lotus Notes and Lotus Symphony in the one billion-unit desktop market worldwide by 2009. ...

The four leaders are working with their local business partners in markets around the world to build and distribute a pre-loaded PC offering that features IBM's Open Collaboration Client Solution (OCCS) including Lotus Notes, Lotus Symphony and Lotus Sametime; the Linux operating system of each distributor; and software applications and installation services from the local partners in each market.
Also,
Canonical, which sells subscription support for Ubuntu, a Linux operating system that scores high marks on usability and "the cool factor," will re-distribute Lotus Symphony via their repositories. Symphony 1.1 will be available through the Ubuntu repositories by the end of August. General availability will coincide with the Lotus Symphony 1.2 release expected to be available by the end of October 2008.
Cool stuff...hopefully, again, you're seeing the more aggressive stance that was in last week's press releases as well.

Ed Brill Highland Park, IL USA Category:  Lotus  Add/View Comments [32]

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  1. 1  Graham Dodge  | 8/5/2008 7:26:36 PM

    Ed,

    When I click on the Foundations ISV link in the first press release I get the following error:

    https://www-304.ibm.com/usrsrvc/account/userservices/jsp/null

    ******************

    Forbidden

    You don't have permission to access /account/userservices/jsp/null on this server.

    Additionally, a 403 Forbidden error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.

    ******************

    I have tried logging in separately using my IBM ID and can navigate the IBM site normally but I can't get to that ISV toolkit link. Whom should I annoy to check it out?

    P.S. Anyone else managed to get the link to work?

  1. 2  Henry Ferlauto http://www.geniusinside.com | 8/5/2008 8:11:53 PM

    eWeek has also run an article on this topic.

    The title is a little better in the attention grabbing department: IBM, Linux Dealers Seize Chance to Market 'Microsoft-Free' Desktop

    { Link }

  1. 3  Jack Dausman http://www.leadershipbynumbers.com | 8/5/2008 8:59:57 PM

    Wow. "Microsoft-free" is a strong tag line. Good stuff. The addition of Symphony in the Ubuntu repository is a surprise. That's going to make it a much, much easier sell. Managing Linux package management is troublesome in the enterprise.

  1. 4  Bill Malchisky http://www.EffectiveSoftware.com | 8/5/2008 9:50:32 PM

    Ed:

    Congrats to IBM for their new announcements at LinuxWorld. Great news indeed. I enjoy the term, "Microsoft-free", as it is one I've used for years to describe my internal business infrastructure to clients and colleagues. It is possible to have zero MS servers in an SMB environment and have better results. The end users love it, as the server is always available, and they get all of their applications to work (ymmv, of course).

    I've converted two companies last year to remove all the MS licensing except the desktop OS, with ND7 clients and servers. They love the solution and are very productive.

  1. 5  Nathan T. Freeman http://nathan.lotus911.com | 8/5/2008 9:51:10 PM

    You made /.

    { Link }

  1. 6  Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 8/5/2008 10:08:50 PM

    @5 darn, I was hoping you literally meant that edbrill.com made slashdot. :) Besides, the discussion is already off in a direction of IBM and Notes haters, as usual, unfortunately. Ironic, too, since one of them complains about PDF creation capability on Linux...which is, wait for it...a feature in Notes 8 and Lotus Symphony.

  1. 7  Alan Hamilton  | 8/6/2008 1:38:50 AM

    There's already a UNIX based system that can run Microsoft free but with Lotus Notes installed - Mac OS X.

  1. 8  Mats Jansson http://www.lotusr.com | 8/6/2008 2:05:59 AM

    Great, this is type of articles is needed. Companies must and will be aware of the fact that it is possible an in almost all cases profitable to go without Microsoft. I am running my laptop on Opensuse 11. @7, It is a matter of choice, If You could run Mac OSX on standard Intel pc it would be fine, but there You are, stuck into only one platform, without any choices.

  1. 9  Michael Brown  | 8/6/2008 3:58:10 AM

    Novell? Yuk!

    They seem to be playing both sides of the street: entering this "microsoft-free" alliance, whilst trousering heaps of cash from the Dark Side at the same time.

  1. 10  Pedro Quaresma http://playroom3.wordpress.com | 8/6/2008 4:24:14 AM

    Agreed with @9 . "Novell" and "Microsoft free" on the same sentence does not compute.

  1. 11  Stuart McIntyre http://collaborationmatters.com | 8/6/2008 4:47:45 AM

    @7 Well said...

    I think all this aggressive marketing is tremendous, and I applaud Lotus for upping the ante.

    Clearly Linux plays a part in this story, particularly at the server end. However, I do wish that more was being made of the Mac options at the desktop - I honestly don't think there is any doubt that more businesses are considering Mac as their "Microsoft-free" desktop than any of the Linux vendors.

    Perhaps this will change when the Notes 8.5 is released with a non-beta Mac version? I really hope so.

  1. 12  Sean Jennings  | 8/6/2008 5:39:48 AM

    drug-free

    alcohol-free

    tax-free

    microsoft-free

    paradise?

  1. 13  Erik Brooks  | 8/6/2008 5:56:12 AM

    @6 - There's a small bit of "We used Notes and it was good at this..." There's also a fair amount of "IBM is adapting -- they're so good at that".

    You've got some opportunity for some good press here.

    For example, there's people there who are asking:

    "So is it built on Eclipse?"

    "Does that mean it looks like Eclipse?"

    "Or does it look like Notes but it just runs on Eclipse?"

    You should post to the thread (anonymous would be fine), citing links to:

    - IBM's investment into Notes (especially the UI)

    - Screenshots of Notes 8's new UI

    - Notes 8's reviews where its UI beats/ties Outlook

    - Symphony's ease of PDF creation

    A post like that should get moderated up (i.e. highly-exposed) pretty quickly.

    Many of those /.ers are the people who will later be helping to sell, install, and support these initiatives. While there are some idiots, there are some very bright people there who need to learn that "Notes ain't dead."

  1. 14  Jeff Naylor  | 8/6/2008 7:18:03 AM

    If IBM would give me that promised Mac version of Symphony I'd have had a Microsoft-free desktop a long time ago.

    Just sayin'.

  1. 15  Kevin Mort http://www.theglobalmind.com | 8/6/2008 8:20:37 AM

    I've had some very good conversations in recent weeks regarding Foundations. We held a class for our partners in June on the product with excellent response there as well.

    I've had contact with a couple of IBMers on any issues I ran into, and suggestions for new stuff and they've been very open to that feedback.

    At the moment it's running here on my laptop as a VM.

  1. 16  Kevin Mort http://www.theglobalmind.com | 8/6/2008 8:27:44 AM

    @13 - Erik - I'll second your comments there. Excellent idea.

    For all the trolls & haters there are some who are genuinely asking what the deal is.

    Mindshare is the name of the game, we need to get those folks into the fold.

  1. 17  Bill Brown  | 8/6/2008 1:22:17 PM

    If Lotus would just release an Domino Admin client for Linux, I wouldn't need to run Windoze.

  1. 18  Erik Brooks  | 8/6/2008 1:27:40 PM

    @16 - Thanks... I've been going to /. for a loooong time.

    It has a reputation of being this army of anti-MS, pro-Linux people between the ages of 12 and 22. While that probably profiles the bulk of their readers, I think many people would be shocked at some of the people that read it.

    There are definitely several regulars who are responsible for 10,000+ seat organizations, including many decision makers.

    A well-written comment would be inexpensive, well-targeted publicity.

  1. 19  John Foldager http://www.izone.dk | 8/6/2008 4:17:38 PM

    Ed, could you please tell us how to participate in the "Lotus Foundations ISV Developer Toolkit" beta program? The press release has a link to it, but it just gets me to... being able to edit my profile on IBM.

    Especially, I would like to know what we can do to prepare our solutions for the Lotus Foundations and how to package things up.

    You can email me directly if needed. Thanks!

  1. 20  Samuel deHuszar Allen http://www.essentialforms.com | 8/6/2008 4:49:12 PM

    One quick question about Foundations... Nitix has replication disabled in all it's Domino appliances, will that be lifted in these products as they shift into the Foundations branding?

    On the desktop side, I noticed Quickr was conspicuously missing from the line-up. At that LCTY event in Chicago, if you remember, I was bouncing between knowledgeable parties to get info on Quickr connectors and servers on Linux and was tolk tentatively, that they should be ready for the official 8.5 launch of Quickr (which I imagine will be a little after 8.5 for Notes).

    Are you just waiting for the Linux version to be beta ready before touting it, or is this a sign that there may not be Quickr for Linux?

    It seems like an odd omission given the topic(s) at hand.

  1. 21  Samuel deHuszar Allen http://www.essentialforms.com | 8/6/2008 4:51:13 PM

    Oh, and +1 for Symphony on OSX. I have many clients waiting to convert as they don't like OpenOffice as much, if not more than Microsoft Office and would definitely try Symphony out if it were available.

  1. 22  David Killingsworth http://domino.symetrikdesign.com | 8/6/2008 10:53:40 PM

    Instead of using "Microsoft-Free" they should have very thoroughly thought about how to say the same thing with different words.

    At first glance, I put the two words Microsoft and then FREE together.

    sans-Microsoft, for example, could have been a better choice.

  1. 23  Erik Brooks  | 8/7/2008 5:06:30 AM

    @22 - Really? I showed this article to about 10 different people and they all got it.

    "Microsoft-Free" != "Free Microsoft"

  1. 24  Jay Zeltzer  | 8/7/2008 6:53:06 AM

    Over 27K views on the eweek article. "Microsoft - Free" seems to be eye catchy.... The article also sends a loud message to the trade rags that this is a topic worth writing more about.

  1. 25  Kevin Mort http://www.theglobalmind.com | 8/7/2008 7:30:10 AM

    @18 - Yep, I agree. I've been reading /. for years as well, and that certainly is the general view of the site.

    I think it's changed a bit in the last year or so but still, like any public comment forum you have to sift though the junk to find the gold.

  1. 26  Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 8/7/2008 8:08:16 AM

    @19/20 you both ask questions I don't know answers to - I will see if I can find out.

  1. 27  Johanna Cook  | 8/7/2008 9:56:14 AM

    The correct URL for the "Lotus Foundations ISV Developer Toolkit" beta program is https://www-304.ibm.com/software/earlyprograms/surveys/cust/nomination.wss?id=484.

    You will need an IBM ID to access this site.

    I work on the IBM Lotus Foundations beta programs.

  1. 28  Samuel deHuszar Allen http://www.essentialforms.com | 8/7/2008 12:21:41 PM

    @26 One last question that I forgot to put in the my previous post (if you don't mind)... Nitix at present keeps their seat licensing separate from Passport Advantage, will there be Passport advantage so that current Notes shops looking to pick up a Foundation server for a remote office or an offsite backup/failover node don't have to repurchase/duplicate a bunch of licenses?

  1. 29  David Bell  | 8/7/2008 1:13:22 PM

    @8 - "If you could run Mac OSX on standard Intel pc"

    Technically you can do this, but the license forbids non-Apple hardware as I understand it. A colleague of mine installed and was up and running on his T60p recently, but then saw the license restriction.

  1. 30  Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 8/7/2008 1:25:56 PM

    @28 doubt it in current architecture, but we'll see in the future.

  1. 31  Nazeer Aval http://www.sbm.com.sa | 8/10/2008 12:19:19 PM

    Great move by IBM. We have no.of customers here in Saudi Arabia evaluating Notes 8.5 Beta on Ubuntu which is the perfect alternate for XP. On this beta, number of issues have noticed and eagerly waiting for next beta version.

  1. 32  Lars Olufsen http://www.olufsphere.com | 8/12/2008 5:46:01 AM

    I've said it before, and I will keep saying it ...

    IBM should release a FREE POP3-based scaled-down Notes client for Linux (including Symphony), so that owners of Eee PC's and similar can get a decent client experience that they will bring with them into the corporate environment.

    Of course it should be available for Windows and OS X as well, but right now, these small-footprint 'microsoft-free' initiatives are on the move.