SA businesses jump at IBM mid-market messaging and collaborative software

IBM`s new Express versions of its Lotus Notes and Domino messaging and collaborative software are finding ready buyers among South African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are moving rapidly to Linux-based infrastructure and have outgrown the limits of traditional e-mail functionality.

So says IBM SA`s WebSphere and Lotus technical sales lead, Mark Mallabone: "Most South African businesses have fewer than 1 000 employees. So, they`ve fallen through a crack, in terms of messaging and collaborative software. Enterprise versions of such software have been too feature-rich and therefore too expensive for them. As a result, they`ve been doomed to the low-end packages which, in an on-demand business environment, are just too limited.

"Also, until now, if they wanted to upgrade to higher-end products, they had to face the cost of upgrading their infrastructure at the same time.

"And, in the Linux era, SMEs have become used to getting their software free or at extremely low prices. In the process, they have lost the benefits of support and on-going enhancements of functionality. But we don`t believe they should pay over the odds for those sorts of benefits.

"Which is why we designed IBM Lotus Domino Collaboration Express and IBM Lotus Domino Utility Server Express to give mid-market companies enterprise-grade software - but with simplified installation and administration options. We`ve also provided access to a wide range of ready-to-use business applications.

"And, we`re offering special deals for customers wanting to trade up from competitor products."

The Domino Express offerings simplify the complexities of running a business by enabling customers to streamline infrastructure administration, collaborate more easily through shared "workspaces", and scale the technology to fit their changing business needs.

IBM Lotus Domino Collaboration Express delivers to SMEs the proven performance, security and dependability of IBM Lotus Notes and Domino 6 - at a lower total cost of ownership than competitive offerings. It includes a messaging and collaboration server that provides e-mail, group scheduling, discussion forums, team workplaces and the custom application capabilities of Domino. Customers have multiple client access choices including Lotus Notes or Domino Web Access (iNotes), Domino Access for MS Outlook or Web Mail.

The product improves customer responsiveness and business relations through better communication with customers, suppliers and partners.

IBM Lotus Domino Utility Server Express provides companies with the ability to easily deploy applications that solve specific business problems, such as solutions for workflow and approval, customer relationship management and sales force automation. With functionality provided by the IBM Lotus Domino Enterprise Server, the software gives organisations unlimited access to collaborative applications through a Web browser or separately purchased Notes client.

Both offerings are supported across multiple platforms - including Linux on Intel, Microsoft Windows, IBM OS/400 (iSeries), IBM AIX (pSeries) and Sun Solaris.

And, both products build on IBM`s portfolio of Express offerings, which includes software, hardware, services and financing options optimised for the specific needs of smaller enterprises.

Customers can buy up to 1 000 licences of IBM Lotus Domino Collaboration Express when trading up from competitive e-mail products. The IBM Lotus Domino Utility Server may be purchased by organisations with fewer than 1 000 employees, in CPU increments, up to a maximum of four CPUs per server.