Lotus enables US government agencies to provide speedy services via collaborative technology

Lotus Development Corp. has announced that four major U.S. federal government agencies are using Lotus Domino, Lotus` rich messaging and collaboration platform, to better communicate and collaborate with public, private and non-profit organizations in order to deliver first-class service to citizens across the nation. The U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey have selected Lotus` technology that provides secure, Internet-based access for mission-critical government applications and training.

"Adoption of Lotus technology in the U.S. federal government shows how Lotus Domino`s rich messaging, collaboration and workflow capabilities are helping government agencies to become more efficient," said Michael Sheehan, director of federal sales and marketing, Lotus Development Corp.

"Lotus is helping agencies throughout the Department of Interior and Agriculture transform traditional government entities into responsive, service-oriented organizations."

Officials of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said they chose Lotus technologies because they needed a collaborative environment, a platform for expanding current solutions and building new applications, and an expanded messaging system for the USGS` 11,000 employees. "The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) intends to leverage the security, centralized administration and collaborative qualities of Lotus Domino, such as electronic signatures and workflow, to provide scientific information to the public at large," said John Clark, a National Messaging Manager of USGS.

Administrators of the Fish and Wildlife Service, which conserves and protects the nation`s fish and wildlife and their habitats, said they decided to upgrade from traditional e-mail to a more robust, expanded system that offered messaging, scheduling and discussion databases. "Our challenge was to expand from an e-mail system to a messaging infrastructure and establish a reliable development application platform. Lotus technology has enabled us to achieve all of these goals," stated Martin Quinlan, messaging manager for the Fish and Wildlife Service. The Fish and Wildlife Service is using the broad, collaborative features of Lotus Notes for discussion databases and scheduling to become more efficient and to realize the benefits of streamlined scheduling, group projects and Web and intranet access, he said.

U.S. Forest Service (USFS) representatives said they needed a scalable and reliable messaging and collaboration system as the foundation for a system that is vital to supporting communications among thousands of users across the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. The largest agency within the Department of Agriculture, USFS has implemented a nationwide messaging system using the Lotus Notes integrated Internet client. According to USFS administrators, deployment of Notes allows the Service to better communicate and share information more effectively with a wide range of external constituencies including other public agencies, private organizations and citizens.

Officials of the National Park Service (NPS) said they needed a fast and effective means of communication for its 18,000 employees spread nationwide between the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. As a solution, the NPS has said it will implement Lotus Notes-based calendaring, scheduling, messaging, and document management across all of its locations, as well as with other government agencies and the public.

Long in the forefront in the use of advanced information technology, NPS officials said they chose Lotus technology to increase its operating efficiency by streamlining processes through the use of effective information sharing.

Lotus Development Corporation, founded in 1982, is a subsidiary of IBM Corporation. Lotus sets the standard for truly innovative software products and services that reflect the company`s unique understanding of the new ways in which individuals and businesses must work together to achieve success. Lotus is redefining the concept of conducting business through practical knowledge management, e-business and other ground-breaking ways of connecting the world`s ideas, thinkers, buyers, sellers and communities via the Internet. Lotus markets its products in more than 80 countries worldwide through direct and extensive Business Partner channels. The company also provides numerous professional consulting, support and education services through the Lotus Professional Services organization.