IBM Delivers Messaging for Medium-Sized Businesses

IBM today announced the availability of two new messaging and collaboration software products which it says are designed, packaged and priced specifically for mid-sized businesses.

IBM Lotus Domino Collaboration Express and IBM Lotus Domino Utility Server Express are built to enable medium-sized companies (which IBM defines as businesses with 100 to 1,000 employees) to deploy the same software as large, global organizations. The Express versions, IBM says, feature simplified installation and administration options, advanced security and access to a wide range of ready-to-use business applications.

Both products are available immediately and build on IBM's portfolio of Express offerings including software, hardware, services and financing options optimized for the specific needs of smaller enterprises.

IBM Lotus Domino Collaboration Express, IBM reports, brings the performance, security and dependability of IBM Lotus Notes and Domino 6 to small and medium-sized businesses. The offering includes a messaging and collaboration server that provides e-mail, group scheduling, discussion forums, team workplaces and the custom application capabilities of Domino. Customers' client access choices include Lotus Notes or Domino Web Access (iNotes), Domino Access for MS Outlook or Domino Web Mail. Domino Collaboration Express can help improve customer responsiveness and business relations through better communication with customers, suppliers and partners.

IBM Lotus Domino Utility Server Express provides companies with the capability to deploy applications that solve problems, such as solutions for workflow and approval, customer relationship management and sales force automation. With functionality provided by the IBM Lotus Domino Enterprise Server, Lotus Domino Utility Server Express gives organizations access to collaborative applications through a Web browser or separately purchased Notes client.

Customers can buy up to 1,000 licenses of IBM Lotus Domino Collaboration Express at $89.25 per user when trading up from competitive e-mail products, or $119 for new purchases. The IBM Lotus Domino Utility Server may be purchased by organizations with fewer than 1,000 employees, in two CPU increments, at $5,000 (with a maximum of four CPUs per server).

Do you have a comment or question about this article or other small business topics in general? Speak out in the SmallBusinessComputing.com Forums. Join the discussion today!