At Lotusphere today, IBM (NYSE: IBM) announced Lotus Quickr software, a new Web 2.0-based collaborative content offering designed to transform the way everyday business content, such as documents and rich media, is shared and enable more effective team collaboration. Lotus Quickr software comprises connectors that integrate with popular desktop applications, a rich set of content and team services such as wikis and team blogs, and scalable content repositories to help businesses manage information in a security-rich environment.
Being competitive in today's dynamic marketplace requires that businesses have quick and easy access to important information and can share it across organizational, geographic and application boundaries. Lotus Quickr software breaks down these barriers by supporting a variety of content repositories, operating systems and desktop applications, making collaboration transparent and natural for users.
Lotus Quickr connectors help organizations:
- Reduce overflowing email inboxes: The Lotus Notes connector enables users to open and save email attachments directly into a document library or team workspace. When composing email messages with attachments, users will be prompted to move the attachment to a shared content library and send links instead of sending unnecessary copies of file attachments. Lotus Quickr content libraries are also available in the Lotus Notes 8 sidebar for instant access to shared content including drag and drop access between Lotus Notes applications and Lotus Quickr content stores. Share content in real-time: Built on open Eclipse technology, the Lotus Sametime connector lets users easily navigate through content stored in Lotus Quickr libraries and share content within an instant messaging session.
- Manage and make content accessible: With the Microsoft Windows Explorer connector, users can navigate through Lotus Quickr content in the familiar Windows Explorer or "My Documents" interface, dragging and dropping files and entire folders as needed.
- Work collaboratively and control version management: With the Microsoft Office connector, users can open and save documents directly into a library or team workspace through integrated menu action items. Check-in and check-out capabilities allow users to lock a document, blocking others from making edits and helping to ensure version control in a collaborative editing process.
- Syndicate content openly: New RSS/Atom feeds open the world of Lotus Quickr content sharing and collaboration to a variety of RSS-enabled applications, including Firefox and FeedDemon.
- A "personal edition" of IBM Lotus Quickr software that includes the desktop connectors and content library capabilities of Lotus Quickr software will be provided to licensed Lotus Notes and Domino customers at no additional charge.
Lotus Quickr software also provides a set of out-of-the-box application templates designed to help enterprises tackle specific business challenges. For example, a brainstorming template helps organizations formalize idea sharing and gathering with those inside and outside of the organization in one easy to access location. Users submit an idea, receive and track feedback, and monitor the status of the idea as it moves from concept to reality.
Building on IBM's commitment to choice and flexibility in computing, Lotus Quickr software integrates with Lotus Notes versions 7.X and 8.0, Microsoft Office 2000, XP, and 2003 and Microsoft Windows 2000, XP and 2003, removing the need for customers to upgrade significant parts of their desktop infrastructure to take advantage of Lotus Quickr functionality. In addition, Lotus Quickr software supports multiple repositories including Lotus Domino and IBM WebSphere Portal. IBM also announced the intention to support IBM FileNet P8 later in 2007, allowing customers to leverage IBM FileNet's advanced business process management and records management capabilities in content-centric applications and compliance solutions.
Customers who have invested in multiple products from the Lotus portfolio will be able to integrate Lotus Quickr software across their existing infrastructure. Lotus Quickr software will support the productivity tools in IBM Lotus Notes 8, a series of document, spreadsheet and presentation editors, which support open document format (ODF). Lotus Quickr and Lotus Sametime customers will be able to see the availability status and initiate a chat within a Lotus Quickr teamspace. Lotus Connections and Lotus Quickr customers will be able to "dogear" content from within Lotus Quickr libraries. WebSphere Portal and Lotus Quickr customers can develop custom portal applications that include in context collaboration. In addition, IBM Workplace Forms customers can integrate form templates as a component within Lotus Quickr software.
With Lotus Quickr software, users have the flexibility to work anytime, anywhere with anyone. Customers can take an entire teamspace offline for editing and then replicate with the server the next time they connect. During the editing process other users are blocked from editing the same content, helping to ensure version consistency. In addition, Lotus Quickr software provides quick and simple ways for teamspace owners to add users from outside of the organization. With the extranet capabilities in Lotus Quickr software, businesses can extend the advanced collaboration and content sharing capabilities to customers, partners and vendors through Web-based teamspaces.
Licensed Lotus QuickPlace customers will be entitled to the standard edition of Lotus Quickr software at no additional charge. Lotus Quickr software is expected to be available in the first half of 2007. Pricing will be available later in the year.
For more information on IBM's activities at Lotusphere 2007, please access the company's online press kit at: www.ibm.com/press/lotusphere2007
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