Lotus guru Ron Sebastian recently demonstrated the new Lotus Sametime 7.5 environment. This fully open, eclipse based, platform is a new leap forward towards real time business including sound proof ´click to call´capabilities (with Skype quality), ´instant communities´ and location awareness locating people all over the globe via (for example) Google maps.

Sametime truly allows people in different places to work together in a virtual office, whether they’re across the hall or across the globe. Sametime 7.5 will have secure and completely free connections to other, public networks like Google talk, Yahoo and AOL. And as soon as Microsoft decides to start using its (own developed) SIP protocol maybe also MSN messenger. Lotus also announced partnerships with Nokia and Rim enabling their new Communicators and Blackberry´s standard with the new Sametime mobile client.

IBM started saving ± 40 million $ a year after the introduction of Sametime some years ago. It´s already more important then email and it´s importance will only increase with the coming of these new possibilities. Why send a mail if you can speak to someone live whilst sharing a file and instantly sending a quick feedback poll to the rest of the community?

All over a (virtually) free Internet connection... its much more efficient and saves money and time.

Have you wondered how to get your Lotus Notes Calendar entries over to Google Calendar? With this free utility, you can simply select the calendar entries in your Lotus Notes mail/calendar, and do a Actions / Export to iCal. The result are .ICS files that you can use to import into any iCal/vCal compliant calendar including the popular Google Calendar!

*Download

Requirements: (1) Notes Domino Designer application, (2) Designer Access to your Notes Mail file, (3) Ability to sign your agents/script libraries.

Installation: (1) Extract Zip file to your Notes Data directory, (2) Open up Domino Designer, (3) CTRL-O to open up iCalExport.nsf, (4) Navigate to Script Libraries, (5) If you haven't signed the database with your Notes ID, you can sign the elements individually, (6) CTRL-C to copy all the Script Library elements, (7) CTRL-O to open up your Notes mail database, (8) Navigate to Script Libraries, (9) CTRL-V to paste, (10) Go back to the iCalExport database and navigate to Agents, (11) CTRL-C to copy the 'Export to iCal' agent, (12) Go back to your Notes Mail database, (13) Navigate to Agents, (14) CTRL-V to paste, (15) Finally, close out of Designer, and open up your Notes calendar. (16) Select any entries you wish to export. (17) Go to Actions > Export to iCal (18) Check the output folder. (19) Import the .ICS files to your favorite Calendar. (20) Enjoy!

Based on code in iCal Import Utility on Lotus Sandbox. Unfortunately, the installer only works on Lotus Notes 5. Mr. McReady could not be contacted, so therefore, I took it to myself to enable the export function on Notes 6 / 7 clients.

This IDC study provides a review and analysis of the independent software vendor partner programs offered by key software vendors as well as guidance to vendors that are developing or redesigning programs or reviewing strategies in this area. IDC ranks IBM number one in ISV Partner Programs. To read more, click here.

Beat your competition to market while keeping technical development and training costs in check. The IBM Virtual Innovation Center (VIC) offers an easy, cost effective way to build skills and develop applications with IBM. Over 6,500 IBM Business Partners are already taking advantage of the resources available through the VIC. You can too. Learn how by listening to our webcast.

Want an easier way to build skills and complete technical projects with IBM? Want to be able to connect with live IBM experts for guidance? Wish it could all be for free? IBM's Virtual Innovation Center is the answer. Log-on at www.ibm.com/PartnerWorld/vic for 24/7 access to IBM’s complete portfolio of technical training and technical development support. You also get a personalized user experience so you access only resources you care about, and virtual mentoring 24/7 5 days a week via live chat and email for immediate answers to your questions.

Even better, fill out a project profile to get assigned to a dedicated project resource manager who will build a customized enablement path fit to your development and education goals, connect you to IT architects, product experts and IBM Techline and be available to you from project start to finish.

Use the IBM Virtual Innovation Center to connect with the right resource at the right level at the right time.
www.ibm.com/partnerworld/vic

If you are trying to start or expand your current Lotus User Group, then LotusUserGroup.org is the place to begin. With free hosting of a user group Quickplace provided, as well as a weekly topic forum and webcasts, there is no better resource.

So stop by today and sign up!

Genii Software is pleased to announce the release of CoexEdit 1.0, a new product from the makers of the Midas Rich Text LSX, created to enhance rich text editing coexistence between Notes and the web.
CoexEdit lets people edit rich text from both a Notes client and a web browser without significant loss of formatting. Images, attachments, tables and doclinks can all be added, deleted and modified cleanly from either your web editor or your Notes client. You can even choose your own rich text web editor, using the one which best meets the needs of your organization. Best of all, there are no agents or scripts or coding required for CoexEdit itself, and we can help you figure out how to easily integrate your chosen rich text web editor with Lotus Notes.

Read the press release or visit the CoexEdit page for more information, or just request a free evaluation license and get started today.

Since the launch of IBM PartnerWorld Industry Networks in March 2004, more than 2,000 firms have taken advantage of the benefits to generate leads and close more business. Find out how the PartnerWorld Industry Networks can help you. You'll be among the first to learn about new offerings in 2005 - including key benefits to help you close business. Find out how IBM's PartnerWorld Industry Networks delivers unique marketing, sales and technical support to help you tap into new revenue streams. If you haven't joined yet - getting started is easy. And if you are a member - learn how you can qualify for even more benefits. We invite you to view the replay of this event at: http://www-1.ibm.com/partnerworld/pwhome.nsf/weblook/eac_webcasts_biz03feb.html

vowe dot net points to this IBM - Lotus Education On Demand: Introduction to Administering IBM Lotus Domino 6/6.5: Operating Fundamentals

Here is a interesting article on an initiative to prevent comment spam in blogs. http://www.google.com/.../preventing-comment-spam.html