|
The Lotus Division of IBM is challenging Microsoft Corp. in the business social software marketplace. IBM's new Lotus Connections products represent the 'most dramatic expansion' of collaborative technology ever attempted, according to Michael Rodin, general manager at IBM Lotus. IBM's initiative has been built on the legacy of Lotus in the collaboration environment. The company's action places IBM in direct competition with Microsoft in the collaboration software market, and some of the technology and positioning of the products are designed to compete with Microsoft's offerings, including Windows Live Spaces, Microsoft's blogging and social networking software. IBM is basing its products on open, standard components and plans to measure itself against end-users' satisfaction. Lotus Connections allows users to collect and share information via social networks and offers dashboard views or projects, individuals, and connections to communities. The software also features five Web 2.0 technologies, including the Activities e-mail and instant-messaging organizer, Communities, the Dogear social bookmarking software, Profiles, and Blogs. Lotus Connections has been called the first 'ready-for-business' social networking software to be available in the industry. IBM Lotus plans to introduce a number of additional products that will make it easier for people to collaborate.
|
Information Sources, Inc.
![[Get Copyright Permissions]](http://license.icopyright.net/images/icopy-w.gif){kind=small}