IBM Brings VoIP and IM to Linux Users

By Johanne Torres

TMCnet Contributing Editor

 

IBM announced it will now integrate VoIP and video conferencing features into a new version of its collaboration platform IBM (News - Alert) Lotus Sametime, version 7.5. This upgrade will also enable users of the platform to collaborate with instant messaging (IM) communication clients such as AOL and Yahoo! The technology giant also announced future plans with Google to connect Lotus Sametime and Google (News - Alert) Talk users.

 

IBM Lotus Sametime 7.5 will now feature embedded VoIP capabilities, allowing users to talk directly through their PCs with the click of a mouse. The platform will also feature a new Web-based conferencing interface which will allow multiple presenters to edit or modify presentations during a Web conference. The platform will also feature an SIP-based real-time collaboration "gateway," for better manageability of enterprise-to-enterprise and enterprise-to-public network connections.

 

IBM and AOL have entered into an agreement to enable Lotus Sametime users to connect with users of AOL, AIM, ICQ and Apple (News - Alert) iChat IM services. Lotus Sametime 7.5 customers will also have access to AOL's AIM Clearinghouse service for easier accessibility to other enterprise IM users.

 

IBM also partnered with Yahoo! in order to arrange interoperability between the Yahoo! Messenger and IBM Lotus Sametime IM communities. Interoperability will be based on the SIP / SIMPLE industry standards.

 

IBM and Google announced plans to enable standards-based interoperability between the IBM Lotus Sametime enterprise IM community and the Google Talk public IM network.

 

IBM also teamed with Avaya (News - Alert), Nortel (News - Alert), Polycom, Premiere Global Services, Siemens, and Tandberg in order to integrate audio, video and PC-based collaboration tools.

 

Sametime 7.5 is currently expected to be available in mid-2006, and pricing will be announced upon availability. Integrated audio systems for Lotus Notes and Domino and Lotus Sametime are currently available with Avaya and Premiere Global Services.

 

IBM

 

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