Lotus Development Corp. today announced that United Airlines, the world`s largest air carrier, has unveiled a highly customizable intranet portal site based on Lotus Web and real-time collaborative technologies. Called "mySkyNet," the browser-based United site enables the airline`s highly-mobile workforce to access information essential to achieving the company`s customer satisfaction objectives.
The mySkyNet portal, currently being tested by 5,000 United employees, is built entirely using Lotus` Domino Release 5 (R5) Web application platform and Sametime, the IBM subsidiary`s real-time collaboration and knowledge management software.
The portal is helping United employees perform more efficiently and effectively by communicating with co-workers in real-time to obtain answers to work-related questions. With mySkyNet, United employees share project plans, hold on-line meetings and group discussions, communicate via instant messages using Sametime technology, and search for information relevant to their daily jobs by personalizing the portal.
"The mySkyNet portal is a valuable tool in providing employees with up-to-the minute access to important business information regardless of the time or location," said Ajay Singh, director, Research and Development in the Information Services Division at United. "By adopting a tailored, user-specific approach for quick access to information, tools and people, United is empowering its employees to better serve its customers, while improving collaboration and reducing communications costs across the organization."
Ken Bisconti, Lotus vice president, Worldwide Product Marketing, commented, "Lotus understands that effectively managing knowledge requires easy access to `people, places and things.`" "By sharing United`s knowledge vision, Lotus and IBM are uniquely qualified to help United fulfill its knowledge management initiatives. With Lotus, customers develop and implement knowledge-based business solutions today, while ensuring a growth path to expand the capabilities of their custom portal applications in the future."
Travel Inside "mySkyNet"
United Airlines, working with Lotus Professional Services, developed mySkyNet within the Domino R5 Web Application development environment using Domino Designer R5, JavaScript, Java, LotusScript and the Domino Server Application Protocol Interface. The application can easily be expanded to create an unlimited number of features and applications. It also leverages Domino`s core capabilities such as its enterprise integration, integrated frameworks and unparalleled security. "The fully-scalable mySkyNet portal will ultimately accommodate approximately 130,000 current and former United employees worldwide," said United`s Mr. Singh.
The mySkyNet portal includes knowledge management components, such as information pull and push capabilities, leveraging both Domino Extended Search and Domino.Doc document management technology. The portal also features Lotus Sametime`s real-time collaboration benefits, providing instant awareness, communication and document sharing capabilities, as well as quick access to document libraries, bulletin boards, address books, online directories and business applications, like Enterprise Resource Planning. The mySkyNet portal offers links to other internal and external portal sites configured especially for United, and single log-on and authentication capabilities with a customizable look and feel. The portal is powered by a Domino R5 server running on the IBM OS/390 operating system, and a Lotus Sametime Server running on Windows NT.
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United Air Lines
United Airlines is the largest majority employee-owned company and the largest airline in the world, offering nearly 2,400 flights a day to 139 destinations in 26 countries and two U.S. territories. United also is an industry innovator with breakthroughs such as E-Ticket Service, the Orion Inventory Management System, Airport Gate Readers, United Shuttle, and the introduction of the technologically advanced Boeing 777. United Airlines` Internet address is www.united.com.
Lotus Development Corporation
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.
Lotus is a registered trademark and Domino Extended Search, Domino, Domino Designer, Domino.Doc, and Sametime are trademarks of Lotus Development Corporation. IBM is a registered trademark of IBM Corp. All other trademarks are owned by their respective companies.