IBM Middle East outlines new software model with regional launch of Lotus Workplace

The announcement was marked at a launch event in Dubai this morning for regional customers and business partners, where experts from IBM's Worldwide Software Group briefed them on a new model of 'choice' for enterprise desktops and a new direction for the region's software market.

"The environment in the market now is such that people want to use several different client devices throughout their work day-whether laptops, desktops, PDAs, mobile phones-to access key information, use business applications and collaborate with co-workers, customers and business partners. This is exactly what we are addressing with this announcement today," said Bashar Kilani, head of software group, IBM Middle East. "We're also giving organisations a new client management model that is platform-independent, and one that will allow them to centrally manage and deploy these key business applications and data to a range of devices in a secure, efficient and cost effective way."

IBM's new server-managed client model enables customers to centrally manage, provision and immediately deploy key business applications and data to a range of client devices as needed. Using new software component technologies, IBM is combining the low total cost of ownership and immediate deployment qualities of web applications with the rich functionality of traditional PC software. As a result, customers will no longer have to deal with separate and distinct applications on the Web and their desktop PCs -- receiving the benefits of a single model of client computing.

In addition, IBM's software model enables businesses to manage a wide variety of client devices and extends access to new and existing applications and data to these devices. As a result, people can use virtually any client device they choose -- across a wide range of operating systems - to collaborate with people and access and manage key business information and applications whenever and wherever they need it.

IBM's open middleware is designed to support clients running Windows, Unix, Linux, MacOS and operating systems for wireless and embedded devices such as Symbian. In addition, IBM's model for managing clients is inclusive as it fully supports a wide range of applications running on "thick" clients -- such as desktops running productivity applications -- fully protecting customers' investments in these resources.

IBM's new software environment includes: Lotus Workplace software to help customers collaborate more productively using a variety of integrated, server-managed productivity functions for e-mail, instant messaging, document management, and team collaboration; Tivoli software to centrally administer thousands of clients, including client access, setup and updates as well as provisioning computing resources to clients when needed; WebSphere Portal software to provide a single point of personalized interaction with people, applications and content; and built-in, server-managed security, workflow, and application and data management capabilities.

IBM today announced new software products delivering the server-managed client environment. The new offerings include:

New IBM Lotus Workplace Messaging and IBM Lotus Workplace Documents: The offerings are delivered through the IBM Workplace Client Technology, a rich client platform built on the Eclipse framework that will help provide customers with additional flexibility and choice, yet simplify deployment through a consistent infrastructure. The Workplace software can help lower total cost of ownership by enabling organizations to centrally deploy and manage messaging and document management function to the most appropriate client or different types of users.

Both software offerings deliver a new way for customers and partners to develop, deliver, and centrally manage rich end-user applications in a server-managed client model. IBM Lotus Workplace Messaging, the low cost, open standards-based messaging solution for browser users (Web Access Edition), will now provide a rich-client experience traditionally found in desktop applications, with all the cost benefits and manageability of Web-based applications. The solution can be easily integrated across existing supported infrastructures to take full advantage of current IT investments. In addition, IBM Lotus Workplace Documents provides customers with increased business productivity capability within their collaborative workplace environment. Based on rich client technology, customers can more easily keep track of information that gets completed within various document types by providing a centralized location for end users to create, import, edit and save rich documents, presentations and spreadsheets.

New Workplace Client Technology, Micro Edition: The new Workplace Micro Environment (WCTME) software (version 5.7) extends enterprise applications to a wide variety of devices. Middleware that comprises device versions of IBM enterprise software, such as DB2e, MQe, Service Management Framework and Java runtime environments, WCTME 5.7 enables a more seamless link between devices and the enterprise. This makes it easier for enterprises, developers and manufacturers to build and configure function-rich applications on devices, as well as manage, update and install new services remotely and wirelessly. In addition, the software enables the management of applications in an environment (for example, a mobile salesforce) in which devices are not connected to a network all the time. The WCTME software enables access to business applications whether devices are connected, disconnected or sometimes-connected - and then synch up later.

IBM Business Partners are also embracing the IBM Workplace Client Technology. ISVs, developers and solution integrators are now able to cost-effectively deploy their offerings to heterogeneous environments as well as deliver customized solutions on a broad range of devices extending J2EE solutions to J2ME devices. The IBM Workplace Client Technology enables IBM Business Partners such as Adobe, PeopleSoft, Siebel and others to deliver solutions that address specific industries and business processes.