Lotus Development has launched a Web-based press site designed to showcase the company`s technologies while building collaborative relationships with constituents in the media.
"The goal of our site is to offer press contacts and analysts worldwide a single place to find everything they need to learn and write about Lotus strategies, products and directions," says Lesego Tlhabanelo, marketing communications manager at Lotus Development SA.
Visitors can participate in collaborative discussions on-line using the company`s Sametime instant messaging application which will allow spokespeople from Lotus to conduct Sametime meetings with members of the press and analysts.
"For example: a reporter might receive an e-mailed invitation from the Lotus communications team to attend a briefing on Monday at 10:00. The email includes a URL and a call-in number. At the appointed time, the reporter logs in to the URL, enters the site and joins a Sametime meeting.
The reporter also dials the phone number and joins a conference call [AdP1]and a communications team member. In this manner, the reporter could view a presentation over the Web and participate.
Moving ahead Lotus is looking at providing "Sametime awareness" on the site; i.e. the ability to determine who is currently logged in to the site and is available to be contacted," says Tlhabanelo. "For example, if a reporter came to the press site, and wanted to learn more about Domino, he could inquire as to who is the public relations person handling that. If the reporter saw that person`s name illuminated in green, they`d know that person was on-line and available.
"Reporters familiar with instant messaging technology will know that Sametime is not meant for long strategic discussions, however, in a single minute, you can often get down to the nitty-gritty of the issues and prepare for a productive meeting in the future," he explains.
Finally, in addition to the capabilities outlined above, Lotus is planning to enable the ability to view and receive demos and tutorials on demand. Understandably, the press site is intended for use by key press and analysts, but Lotus has chosen not to make the site password-protected, with the exception of the Sametime meeting centre, demonstrating the security and encryption features to be found in both Sametime and the Lotus Domino server.
The site, at www.lotus.com/pressroom, also contains a wealth of recent press releases, fact sheets, and executive bios from Lotus`s communications team. In addition, Lotus offers strategy presentations, white papers and other collateral, typical of what most major companies provide the press today.
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