IBM Takes on Google Apps
Starting on October 5th IBM will begin selling a Web-based version of its popular Lotus Notes software suite, a move that puts it in direct competition with Google. The service which is currently being called “LotusLive iNotes” will include the traditional email, calendar, and contact management applications, but interestingly enough will not have any type of substitute for Google Docs.
IBM is apparently counting on the notion that most companies simply don’t want all of the applications that come with Google Apps, and would choose just the core communication applications if they had the choice. Just in case that alone isn’t enough to win over companies looking at cloud based options, they are also undercutting Google’s price per user by $14 a year, bringing the annual cost of a license down to a mere $36.
Google may have a two-year head start on IBM with over 1.75 million registered businesses, but researchers from Gartner claim this is only the tip of the iceberg. Apparently if current trends continue, almost 20 percent of companies will use some form of hosted email by 2012. It will be interesting to see if IBM’s sterling reputation with enterprises will be enough to beat out Google. Currently they don’t have any plans to offer free consumer level versions of the product, but that could certainly change over time.
Head on over to IBM's website to access the free 30 day trial.
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roleki
October 04, 2009 at 4:57pm
Sweet, another reason for people to throw up a little in their mouth when they hear the phrase "Lotus Notes."
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mesiah
October 05, 2009 at 8:57pm
I lol'd at this, or should I say ilol'd. Having to use Lotus notes every day makes me want to kick puppies.
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TechJunkie
October 04, 2009 at 4:05pm
I'm sick of this "I" crap.....
Now I need to goto my ibathroom and open the iid of my itoilet and iupchuck....all LIVE ....not memorex....nor through a window....
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1337Goose
October 04, 2009 at 2:00pm
LotusLive iNotes? Seriously?
That successfully rips off Apple and Microsoft at the same time. Apple's "i" as in iMovie, iMac, iSuck and Microsoft's Windows Live.
But seriously, as far as communications is concerned, I have a feeling that Google Wave (when it goes public) will be a more streamlined communication tool than anything that IBM could put together.
~Goose
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TheMaverick
October 04, 2009 at 2:03pm
LOL! So true, so true...
I think you're right about Google Wave. Don't forget about developer APIs, those will probably help Wave lend itself to a corporate environment even more.














