IBM Unveils Lotus Notes Software Extension For iPhoneIBM Unveils Lotus Notes Software Extension For iPhone

IBM reported Tuesday that it has developed a beta release of Lotus Notes and Domino 8.5.1 collaboration software that will extend Lotus Domino automatic syncing capabilities for e-mail and calendaring for the iPhone.

The software release, which also includes plans to support Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync of Lotus Notes Traveler, is an extension of IBM's earlier offering of Notes e-mail via IBM Lotus iNotes ultralight mode. The new support of Exchange ActiveSync support will enable push-access capability, including the ability to view Notes mail, calendar, and contacts data when users are not connected on their iPhones.

"Providing Exchange ActiveSync support via the Lotus Notes Traveler software is part of IBM's pledge to provide enterprises the choice and flexibility to select the mobile devices and carriers that best suit their needs," said Kevin Cavanaugh, VP of messaging and collaboration at IBM, in a statement.

IBM has been improving its effort to link its traditional Lotus and Domino enterprise offerings to social media like blogs and Twitter; the new Lotus and Domino offering is an example of that effort. IBM noted that the new beta will extend existing Lotus Domino automatic syncing capabilities that have previously been offered for the iPhone.

Including also the new 1.3 version of IBM's Lotus Symphony document, spreadsheet, and presentation software, the beta version will bring IBM XPages developer technology to the Lotus Notes client for offline use, IBM added.

The company noted that mobile device producers Nokia and Samsung have recently announced their support for Lotus Notes Traveler software. IBM also observed that Research In Motion's BlackBerry Enterprise Server version 5.0, announced last week, is supported by IBM Lotus software.

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