IBM Extends Its Real-Time Collaboration Platform to Millions of Microsoft Users and Mobile Workers

1 January 1970

byproviding integration with Microsoft® Outlook, Office and SharePointapplications. In addition, Sametime 7.5 will offer direct connectivity tomobile devices from RIM and Nokia, as well as Microsoft Windows® Mobiledevices.

"With today's announcement, we are giving Microsoft customers the choice tojoin the open standards world and avoid being locked into closedsolutions," said Michael Rhodin, general manager, Workplace, Portal andCollaboration Products. "Whether it is advancing a business decision viainstant polling in a Web conference or simplifying international calling byusing the Sametime voice over IP click-to-call features, Lotus Sametime isthe platform of choice for instant collaboration."

With Lotus Sametime 7.5, Microsoft users have easy access to a full set ofinstant messaging and Web conferencing capabilities, without requiringcostly upgrades. Within Microsoft word processing, spreadsheet andpresentation applications, Lotus Sametime customers will be able to takeadvantage of Lotus Sametime 7.5 features, such as sending an instantmessage, initiating a call, sharing an application or launching a Webconference. Within Microsoft email inboxes, users will be able to viewonline presence information, schedule Web conferences from their calendarsand with a click, access full Lotus Sametime capabilities, including Webconferencing.

IBM is empowering a new class of on-the-go employees with out-of-the-boxmobile support for Lotus Sametime. Business users will now be able toaccess the full functionality of Lotus Sametime to see who is available andwhere they are located, enabling quick communication through instantmessages and initiating voice chats directly from their mobile devices.

The only major real-time collaboration platform built on an Eclipseframework, Lotus Sametime 7.5 will give thousands of IBM Business Partnersand developers access to an open programming model, which will spur thecreation and use of business applications in a real-time collaborativeenvironment. Users will be able to take advantage of plug-ins and Web 2.0technologies such as mashups to create new applications on the fly. Forexample, a Lotus Sametime "mashup" could combine the location and status ofteam members on a contact list and display it on an online map.

Lotus Sametime has been the industry's leading integrated instant messagingand "on premise" Web conferencing solution for more than seven years. LotusSametime 7.5 Web conferencing features improved application sharing andenhanced whiteboard performance, fast entry to Web conferences and an"auto-reconnect" capability, should there be any temporary disruptions inconnectivity during the course of a meeting.

Additional features of Lotus Sametime include:

-- No charge access to public instant messaging networks: Lotus Sametime 7.5 will offer access to leading public instant messaging vendors at no additional cost.-- Audio/Video Integration: Lotus Sametime 7.5 will offer integration with leading audio and video providers, enabling features like "click to call" and integrated audio with phone and video conferences. Working with IBM in this area are Avaya, Avistar, Cisco, Nortel, Siemens, Premiere Global Services, Polycom and Tandberg.-- Location-based Awareness: Lotus Sametime 7.5 is the only enterprise instant messaging platform to offer advanced location awareness.-- Multiple person Voice over IP calls: Lotus Sametime 7.5 is the only enterprise instant messaging platform to offer voice over IP calls between multiple users.-- Flexible support for multiple platforms and operating systems: The Lotus Sametime client runs on Windows, Mac, Linux® and on Windows, AIX® and IBM System i servers. Lotus Sametime 7.5 is expected to be available in the third quarter of2006. Mobile support for Lotus Sametime is expected to support RIMBlackBerry, Nokia and Windows Mobile devices with expected availability inthe fourth quarter of 2006. Integration with Microsoft SharePoint, Outlook2000 and above and Office XP and above is expected at the beginning of2007.

IBM, Lotus, Sametime, AIX and System i are trademarks of InternationalBusiness Machines Corporation in the United States, other countries orboth. Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in theUnited States, other countries or both. Linux is a registered trademark ofLinus Torvalds in the United States, other countries or both. Othercompany, product and service names may be trademarks or service marks ofothers.

Contact:

Erica TopolskiIBM Software Group+1-617-693-2816ericat@us.ibm.com

Kevin RuaneText 100+1-617-399-4919kevinr@text100.com

SOURCE: IBM

Source: marketwire

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