Just announced today at the opening of IBM’s new Littleton Design lab:
IBM Collaboration Software to Support the Android Platform
IBM today announced it is delivering a beta version of business-grade collaboration software for use with devices that run the Google Android operating system.
More than ever, businesses are embracing the model of a mobile enterprise. According to analyst firm IDC, there will be more than one billion mobile workers worldwide by year end 2010.
“IBM is committed to supporting the vast array of mobile devices out there including the Android platform,” said Kevin Cavanaugh, vice president, messaging and collaboration, IBM.
Lotus Notes Traveler for Android beta version is no-charge software that can be downloaded by Lotus Notes customers and provides two-way, over-the-air synchronization of information between Lotus Domino and mobile devices.The software allows Lotus Notes users who synchronize their Domino mail, calendar, and contacts via Lotus Notes Traveler to view that data on the devices that run the Android 2.0 or higher operating system. This includes the Droid, Nexus One and many other devices.
Additionally, the next version of IBM Lotus Connections social software plans to support the Android platform.
According to a recent news report, approximately 100,000 Android based phones are being activated each day, with more than 60 models on the market.
“Employees at Memorial Health System use Lotus Notes Traveler on other devices, and I am now getting many requests for Lotus Notes Traveler on Android devices as well. We look forward to trying out the functionality on the Android platform as participants in the beta program,” said John Cherry, Programmer and DBA Manager, Memorial Health System.
IBM also has Lotus Notes Traveler software that supports Nokia Symbian, Windows Mobile Devices and the Apple iPhone and iPad. “I have seen an increase in the use of enterprises using IBM Lotus software with mobile Apple devices as new support and devices have become available, for example, most recently the iPad.” Employees of General Motors, Hyatt, Roto-Rooter Services and many companies have employees using IBM collaboration software on a variety of mobile devices including Apple’s.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMy9bc1tKuk&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6&hd=1&border=1]
More than half of the largest 100 corporations use IBM’s flagship collaboration offerings, Lotus Notes and Domino. These companies include the top aerospace and defense organizations; the top nine automotive firms; the top eight banks; the top four makers of consumer products; the top seven electronics firms; the top eight insurance companies; the top seven pharmaceutical organizations; and the top nine telecommunications carriers.
Whilst the iPhone and Blackberry are still way in front in the organisations we work with, there is no doubting the surge in interest that the Android mobile OS is seeing right now. It’s fantastic that both Traveler and Connections will support the devices in the near future.
Can’t wait to get my hands on that Traveler beta code 😉
