Lotus Notes offers support for Microsoft Outlook

At the opening of Lotusphere 2000, IBM's Lotus division announced the extension of the company's collaboration and messaging software Domino and Notes, to support its arch-competitor's messaging environment. Notes and Domino will support mobile and Internet-based communications devices, as well as Microsoft Outlook.

Lotus will provide users with new classes of distinct offerings that draw from a portfolio of real-time capabilities, comprising application and information sharing, as well as interaction tools. Those capabilities will enable chat, co-worker on-line awareness and instant messaging across a new generation of non-Win32 communications devices including PDAs, Webphones and other mobile devices. With this approach, users will be able to choose appropriate elements to match their specific tasks, workstyles and evolving needs.

"We now work in a world where more and more workers are looking to collaborate anytime and anywhere," said Lotus President and CEO Jeff Papows. "They're asking for mobile access not only to personal data, such as their e-mail and electronic calendars, but also to the ideas and expertise of colleagues and associates. Along with our 20,000 business partners and 56 million users, we are driving a cycle of innovation, testing and progress in knowledge management, distributed learning and collaboration that will lead us to a point where their wishes become reality for knowledge workers around the world."

Lotusphere 2000, which is hosting more than 10,000 attendees and 200 exhibitors, will highlight the latest products and strategies from Lotus and IBM that help maximize organizational effectiveness within the categories of e-business, messaging, collaboration, knowledge management, distributed learning and hosted applications.