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IBM to add Lotus support for iPhone, iPod Touch

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

January 16, 2008, 10:35 AM

The Microsoft rival plans to announce the software at its Lotusphere conference to be held next week.

The software will either be free for those who hold a Web-access license, or $39 USD for new users. It will essentially complete the business capabilities of the iPhone, which already supports Microsoft Exchange.

Lack of corporate support is one of the main reasons why so far the device has not caught on outside of consumer circles. It now appears that Apple is actively seeking to go after these customers in an effort to broaden the market.

Apple and IBM's deal extends to the Mac as well: the Armonk, N.Y. company plans to release compatible versions of Lotus Notes and Lotus Symphony for the platform in the coming months.

135 million customers use Lotus worldwide, according to IBM. The two companies had previously worked together in CPUs, as the IBM PowerPC chip powered Mac computers until 2005.

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By rsx508

posted Jan 17, 2008 - 1:54 PM

Whether Notes is a superior "system" to MS Exchange doesn't matter. I have a full schedule this year migrating customers from Notes to Exchange. I thought last year was busy, but this year looks busier in that regard. Seems like this "feature" is a bit late for those folks.

Score: 0

By xyzcb1

posted Jan 16, 2008 - 11:33 AM

As a Notes user for 2 years, I have to say it's freaking suck. I don't think there is an argument here. Drops menu change when you on different screen. So they make sure they will confuse the hell out of you.

Score: 0

By frankwick

posted Jan 16, 2008 - 2:12 PM

I think Notes is misunderstood. People think of it as an email system when in reality it is a full ecosystem (client, app dev, server, etc). Email is just one of the applications delivered via Notes. In fact, there are other email "systems" which can run on Notes. If you don't like the one that ships in the box, you can even build your own. In fact, check out http://www.openntf.org/ for a slew of open source Notes apps -- including mail.

I do realize that email is the most widely used Notes app. IBM should consider this and redesign mail with a fresh look.

I was a big Lotus fan. They were a creative company with talented developers and big ideas. The day the merger announced was the day Lotus died as a company.

Score: 0

By xyzcb1

posted Jan 17, 2008 - 10:28 AM

I know exactly what it is. The company I used to work for build their system around it, and it is damn slow and complicated to use. Remember, the whole point of software is user friendly. Not a software developer for another developer to use.

Score: 0

By copenhaus

posted Jan 16, 2008 - 1:02 PM

wow, another freak complaining in the wrong thread.

If you are seeing inconsistency in one of them customized apps vs default apps (do you know the differences?) you will need to complain to the developers.

Lotus Notes/Domino is a platform, not an application.

At least you are not forced to re-learn the interfaces every few years just for the sake of "getting excited about the product."

Score: 0

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