IBM acquires WebDialogs
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The IBM Lotus Sametime offerings just got a lot more complicated. Adam Gartenberg goes into more detail about today's announcements.
So now we have multiple choices of Sametime Servers, multiple choices of the level of Sametime Unyte, good for consultants
For years IBM tried to make Sametime into a hosted solution, but failed everytime, remember ladybug and the IGS hosted solutions? Nah, neither do many other people.
It's going to be interesting to see how IBM integrates Unyte with Sametime entry, standard or advanced. Will I be able to schedule Unyte meetings from my Sametime UI, how long till we get a plugin for the sametime connect client to start instant meetings in Unyte etc. I notice the WebDialogs guys have hookins for Outlook already, I imagine they are working feverishly on getting a Notes one done.
What's going to happen to the development environment I wonder, IBM has struggled to keep Sametime conferencing backend/UI up to date with the one product, what happens now with two, will Unyte offer a API for 3rd party plugins extensions, I hope so as that will be a key advantage over the currently limited extension points in the Sametime Meeting client.
Thinking out loud, with no particularly conclusion.
Done right this will be great for Sametime, it's all going to be in the execution, trying to avoid customer confusion at a time when Microsoft has a really clear and strong message is going to be tough, as you can believe Microsoft will try and do their best to make it more confusing, hell if I worked there it's what I'd do.
I am dissapointed that the instant screenshare requires the advanced server, that has to be purely a make money thing, as there is technically no reason that couldn't be available for Sametime Standard, and if was currently on Sametime Maintenance I would have pretty much expected that feature.
If employees can now say things to IT like, "look IBM obviously didn't think Sametime was up to it as they had to go buy WebDialogs, we were right to use WebEx for meetings, so we should continue using it, as we know it works and our users already know it". I wonder if there will be demand for plugins that connect Sametime to other hosted services like WebEx and LiveMeeting? Especially if customers already have accounts and relationships with WebEx. IBM better make Sametime on Premise works well with outside attendees, otherwise their customers will just see it as IBM trying to make money by telling them Unyte would be the better choice for those kind of meetings.
What are Raindance going to do? IBM always used them for hosted meetings (much to the dissapproval of IBM/Lotus partners)
Good to see IBM making acquisitions in this space. IBM was asleep at the wheel for about 5 years with Sametime, they woke up late, but they are doing their best to catch up.
The IBM Lotus Sametime offerings just got a lot more complicated. Adam Gartenberg goes into more detail about today's announcements.
So now we have multiple choices of Sametime Servers, multiple choices of the level of Sametime Unyte, good for consultants
For years IBM tried to make Sametime into a hosted solution, but failed everytime, remember ladybug and the IGS hosted solutions? Nah, neither do many other people.It's going to be interesting to see how IBM integrates Unyte with Sametime entry, standard or advanced. Will I be able to schedule Unyte meetings from my Sametime UI, how long till we get a plugin for the sametime connect client to start instant meetings in Unyte etc. I notice the WebDialogs guys have hookins for Outlook already, I imagine they are working feverishly on getting a Notes one done.
What's going to happen to the development environment I wonder, IBM has struggled to keep Sametime conferencing backend/UI up to date with the one product, what happens now with two, will Unyte offer a API for 3rd party plugins extensions, I hope so as that will be a key advantage over the currently limited extension points in the Sametime Meeting client.
Thinking out loud, with no particularly conclusion.
Done right this will be great for Sametime, it's all going to be in the execution, trying to avoid customer confusion at a time when Microsoft has a really clear and strong message is going to be tough, as you can believe Microsoft will try and do their best to make it more confusing, hell if I worked there it's what I'd do.
I am dissapointed that the instant screenshare requires the advanced server, that has to be purely a make money thing, as there is technically no reason that couldn't be available for Sametime Standard, and if was currently on Sametime Maintenance I would have pretty much expected that feature.
If employees can now say things to IT like, "look IBM obviously didn't think Sametime was up to it as they had to go buy WebDialogs, we were right to use WebEx for meetings, so we should continue using it, as we know it works and our users already know it". I wonder if there will be demand for plugins that connect Sametime to other hosted services like WebEx and LiveMeeting? Especially if customers already have accounts and relationships with WebEx. IBM better make Sametime on Premise works well with outside attendees, otherwise their customers will just see it as IBM trying to make money by telling them Unyte would be the better choice for those kind of meetings.
What are Raindance going to do? IBM always used them for hosted meetings (much to the dissapproval of IBM/Lotus partners)
Good to see IBM making acquisitions in this space. IBM was asleep at the wheel for about 5 years with Sametime, they woke up late, but they are doing their best to catch up.
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Posted by Chris Miller At 09:50:32 PM On 08/23/2007 | - Website - |