Upping the ante on rival Microsoft, IBM has taken the wraps off a series of collaborative agreements aimed at dramatically increasing the visibility of the company’s Lotus collaboration platform on wireless handsets.
Big Blue is partnering with Verizon Wireless, Orange Group, and Samsung Electronics to deliver IBM Lotus Notes and Domino software to smartphone users in the United States, Europe and elsewhere overseas. IBM and Research In Motion also have unveiled new Lotus collaboration software and developer tools for RIM’s BlackBerry platform.
“The new Lotus collaboration features and developer tools on the BlackBerry platform will deliver productivity beyond the office, extending IBM software and services so that individuals can access all of the resources they need to keep their business moving, anytime, anywhere,” said Bob Picciano, general manager of IBM Lotus Software.
Targeting the Mobile Web
Verizon will provide its 85 million U.S. subscribers with access to IBM’s Lotus Notes and Domino offerings. Orange expects to deliver Big Blue’s collaboration software for mobile devices to its 113 million customers across Europe.
Both carriers have agreed to certify support for IBM Lotus Notes Traveler software, which Big Blue says is designed to wirelessly replicate Lotus Notes e-mail, calendaring and personal information management on select smartphones. Samsung has agreed to support IBM software to enable its smartphone users to manage Lotus Notes e-mail, calendars and address books on the go.
The collaboration capabilities for Blackberry users include mobile access to IBM Lotus Symphony files based on the OpenDocument format. IBM and RIM said that similar presentation and spreadsheet capabilities are in the works. Also on tap is enhanced IBM Lotus Connections functionality for gaining access to activities, blogs and communities.
Blackberry users also will gain access to Big Blue’s Web 2.0-based team software. Called IBM Lotus Quickr, the application helps individuals find, access, share…