More Sametime 7.5 tidbits. This time with Microsoft in mind

IBM have just announced some more great features for Sametime 7.5.

In particular "by providing integration with Microsoft Outlook, Office and SharePoint applications". This includes integration into Outlook's calendar for scheduling Sametime Conferences, presence awareness within Outlook, being able to send an IM, initiate a VoIP call, or share the current application from within Microsoft Office.

Also stressed again is the fact that Sametime 7.5 is built on the Eclipse Framework (as is Hannover - next version of the Notes client) which means that third parties, such as us, can built plugins and extensions for the Sametime 7.5 client. I am very excited about this possiblity we have a few ideas for extensions that will make the sametime client awesome.

Additional features of Lotus Sametime include:

-- No charge access to public instant messaging networks: Lotus Sametime 7.5 will offer access to leading public instant messaging vendors at no additional cost.
-- Audio/Video Integration: Lotus Sametime 7.5 will offer integration with leading audio and video providers, enabling features like "click to call" and integrated audio with phone and video conferences. Working with IBM in this area are Avaya, Avistar, Cisco, Nortel, Siemens, Premiere Global Services, Polycom and Tandberg.
-- Location-based Awareness: Lotus Sametime 7.5 is the only enterprise instant messaging platform to offer advanced location awareness.
-- Multiple person Voice over IP calls: Lotus Sametime 7.5 is the only enterprise instant messaging platform to offer voice over IP calls between multiple users.
-- Flexible support for multiple platforms and operating systems: The Lotus Sametime client runs on Windows, Mac, Linux® and on Windows, AIX® and IBM System i servers.

Lotus Sametime 7.5 is expected to be available in the third quarter of 2006. Mobile support for Lotus Sametime is expected to support RIM BlackBerry, Nokia and Windows Mobile devices with expected availability in the fourth quarter of 2006. Integration with Microsoft SharePoint, Outlook 2000 and above and Office XP and above is expected at the beginning of 2007. 

Lotus Notes Hannover (Notes 8) to include Word Processor, Spreadsheet, & Presentation Tool, based on Open Document Format

A huge announcement from Mike Rhodin while demonstrating Notes "Hannover" at DNUG/IBM Lotus Technical Conference keynote- The Notes "Hannover" release will include spreadsheet/presentation/word processing productivity tools supporting the newly ratified Open Document Format .  "We are going to provide an open alternative".  Here is a screen shot of this in action (More work to be done to UI apparently):



This is pretty exciting stuff. While I am sure they won't have the full functionality of Microsoft Word 2007 etc, I am also sure it will probably suffice for 90% of users. We have had many clients wishing this kind of functionality will be added to Notes so that their users can drop Word etc.

Here is some more info.