IBM unveiles SaaS version of Lotus Domino

Companies like IBM and Microsoft love to confuse their customers with numerous services and titles. Not so long ago IBM launched the new mail service LotusLive iNotes, that costs $3 per month per user and provides corporate e-mail, contacts and calendar. And today IBM has unveiled another service called LotusLive Notes, that costs $5 per month and also includes e-mail, contacts and calendar. At first glance, the only difference is the price, but in fact the latest service is a multitenant SaaS version of Lotus Domino (Domino - is the name of server software in the traditional in-house Lotus Notes system). How it differs from LotusLive iNotes?

First, users can work with e-mail and calendar, not only via the web interface (like in LotusLive iNotes), but also in the traditional desktop client Lotus Notes. As we have noted, for the average office worker familiar interface - is a big deal.

Secondly, companies can integrate SaaS LotusLive Notes service  with the existing in-house Lotus Notes implementation. And both servers can be administered from the same Domino console.

In addition, unlike iNotes, LotusLive Notes includes a built-in messenger with online status control and supports syncing with mobile devices (with the mobile client Lotus Notes Traveler).



LotusLive Notes is a copmlete alternative to Microsoft's SaaS service Exchange Online, which also costs $5 per month per user. In addition, IBM now offers a bundle of LotusLive Notes + Connections + Engage for $10 per month per user. This is exactly the same price, as Microsoft asks for the BPOS suite.

See also: Top 10 Email services