Big Blue Strikes Back With Next Generation of Notes/Domino

The question, however, remains: Is the technical promise of Hannover&'s Web-centric approach to collaborative computing strong enough to keep VARs from committing to Microsoft&'s client-server strategy with Vista and Office 12? The finished products from both camps are due to face off in late 2006 or early 2007.

Some VARs, at least for now, are willing to listen to IBM&'s pitch.

“Initially, they&'re just talking about managing upgrades from the server instead of the installation and deployment of Notes clients,” says Steve Cummings, vice president of marketing at IBS America. “But this approach adds value because it addresses recurring complaints among Notes users having one more piece of software to manage. Cutting that takes away a substantial area of concern.”

Some analysts agree that IBM is wise in learning what it did with WorkPlace OS and applying it to Hannover in terms of server-managed clients. Not only does it help relieve administrative headaches, it also gives IBM and its VARs greater flexibility in pursuing business opportunities in multiple OSes for both products.

“Extending server-managed clients to Hannover next year simplifies deployment issues, but in 2007 it also gives [IBM] a chance to extend Notes more deeply into a Linux as well as a Mac environment,” says Dana Gardner, president and principal analyst at Interarbor Solutions in Gilford, N.H.

With Hannover, Workplace OS 2.6, Sametime 7.5 instant-messaging software and a new Notes 7.x suite designed to work with SAP&'s ERP software, IBM is betting it can sway enterprise users it believes are ready to move past traditional, more expensive client-server solutions, such as Vista and Office 12.

“Web-centric computing is less expensive compared to Office and Vista because we can provision new components, and [using] applications from the server based on an individual&'s role in an organization reduces the cost of deploying apps,” says Ken Bisconti, IBM&'s vice president of Workplace, Portal and Collaboration Products.

What intrigued some VARs and analysts as another competitive hedge against Microsoft was IBM&'s strong commitment to supporting the Apple Mac OS 10.4 on client systems with its server-based Notes 7.x. IBM has pledged to support Apple&'s newly minted Intel-based desktop systems as well.

Bisconti plays down the prospect of the relationship between the two companies growing more strategic. A somewhat closer relationship with Apple makes sense only from a practical standpoint given the commercial success of Apple&'s desktop hardware and software during the past couple of years.

“We see a resurgence in the Mac platform on the desktop,” Bisconti says. “You&'ll see us deliver the richest client on both Windows and the Mac with full fidelity.”