14 DAY TRIAL // Research In Motion and IBM announced recently the introduction of new Lotus collaboration features and developer tools for the BlackBerry platform, meant to facilitate the access to live expertise and collective intelligence via BlackBerry handsets. Through the new features, users will be able to find expertise form teams, share information, and also stay in touch in real time, which should leverage their productivity while on the go.
“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, IBM Lotus Software.
The fact that the number of mobile users worldwide is continuously rising has led the two companies to starting the initiative. According to IBM’s Institute for Business Value, mobile Web users are expected to reach a number of almost one billion by 2011, while the interaction between people and the Web should experience a major shift over the next decade.
“Team collaboration shouldn’t stall when employees are on the road or away from their desk,” said Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO, Research In Motion. “RIM and IBM are strengthening the BlackBerry platform for Lotus with a portfolio of enterprise social networking and collaboration capabilities that will make BlackBerry smartphones even more effective in mobilizing businesses around the globe.”
Some of the new features BlackBerry smartphone users will benefit from include Mobile access to Open Document Format (ODF)-based IBM Lotus Symphony documents, the IBM Lotus Quickr Web 2.0-based team software which would help individuals find, access, share and work with a range of business content including documents, photos, and videos on their BlackBerry devices, as well as enhanced IBM Lotus Connections functionality, which would deliver access to activities, blogs, and communities.
Developers will also get help from IBM and RIM, which translates into BlackBerry support for IBM Lotus Domino Designer and Xpages. The development of new applications for BlackBerry smartphones will be enhanced as the BlackBerry JDE plugs into IBM Lotus Domino Designer.
The new features and tools for the BlackBerries will become available this year. IBM and RIM plan on releasing the Symphony document viewing and the new capabilities for Connections during the second quarter, while the Quickr and Designer should become available in the second half of the year.
The two companies also announced that the already-known IBM Lotus Notes, Domino and Sametime unified communications and collaboration software will also be compatible with the new BlackBerry Storm. At the same time, Lotus Sametime has a new BlackBerry Client, enabling users to experience real-time communications through the device's applications. More information can be found on the IBM and BlackBerry sites.