Guild Companies

Firing arrows at what is clearly a Microsoft target, new Lotus chief Ambuj Goyal used the Lotusphere 2003 trade show to direct attention to his division's aim at infrastructure through open standards. Almost in the same breath, Goyal advised the Domino developer community to expect tools that will integrate "next generation" applications based on a common standards-based programming model and a single, open architecture. For Lotus to be on target and in sync with IBM, its newest software will become integrated components that emphasize customer choice of operating system.

Among the flurry of new product announcements coming out of the first days of Lotusphere, the one IBM is most eager to talk about is the beta version of a standards-based e-mail client that puts Lotus back in the inexpensive e-mail client/server business with a product that will provide an easy-to-use alternative to Microsoft Exchange. It is the first e-mail built to run on IBM's WebSphere (the messaging transport) and DB2 (the mail repository) technologies--which provide high marks in scalability and performance--while integrating with Lotus Notes and Domino infrastructures. It also integrates with standards-based directories and security implementations.

The yet-to-be-named e-mail (code-named Next Gen), which essentially appears to be the kind of WebMail front end that many ISPs provide for remote access to e-mail, will be compatible with the existing Lotus Domino messaging environment, but can also address the needs of organizations using competitive messaging solutions. It is scheduled for general availability in the second quarter, with "additional capabilities" to be added in the second half of 2003. IBM is counting on this basic, low-cost e-mail to reach a new audience of users at a "cost-effective" price point, but has not yet mentioned what that price point will be.

The first of the promised products to hit the marketplace will be the IBM Lotus Learning Management System, another initiative built around next-generation technology that offers new e-learning customization capabilities and reporting features. It is set to ship in February.

Also in line with IBM's open systems strategy are several new collaborative tools for portal-based environments, such as an online company directory with built-in awareness and instant messaging. IBM sees the WebSphere Portal as not only the key to an open standards infrastructure but also the framework that delivers Notes and Domino applications in an "integrated employee workplace."

For the loyal Lotus Domino developers, IBM also introduced a toolkit designed to make it easier to use their development skills in the Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) environment. Again, the focus is on a common standards-based programming model and a single open infrastructure.

The benefits touted by IBM are all about commonality, including a common programming model; common administration, including one directory to manage; common data stores; and common services, such as search, workflow, security, and identity management. IBM hopes to make an impression with the message that companies can spend more time on business and less time on "knitting applications together."

The Lotus Domino Toolkit for WebSphere Studio, which is designed to allow Domino applications to be accessed through WebSphere, is in beta now and is scheduled to be generally available with Lotus Domino Designer in the second quarter of 2003.

Speaking of the future, Lotus Software and the WebSphere Studio team are promising the rapid application development (RAD) features for Web applications, which would open J2EE application development--a more integrated environment--to Domino developers.

The RAD features, it should be pointed out, are not only for Domino developers; they are also available to Microsoft Visual Basic users, HTML coders, and JSP developers--anyone who wants to build standards-based, dynamic Web applications.

There is no doubt that collaboration between Domino and WebSphere development environments is being spotlighted. One year ago at Lotusphere, there was an undercurrent of mistrust among the Lotus developer community that stemmed from the fear that WebSphere and the Java environment was on a course to replace the Domino development environment and the Notes client. This time around there is obvious attention toward protecting the Domino developers' skills and the customers' investments, while at the same time moving toward the world of Java. For those willing to make the investment in time, IBM encourages, learning to develop J2EE applications will be a durable reward.

Later in 2003 Lotus expects to upgrade existing products. In the third quarter, IBM will release Notes/Domino 6.5. New versions of Sametime, QuickPlace, and Domino.Doc are expected at the end of the year.