Lotus Software from IBM Teams with Cisco Systems, Captaris To Develop Unified Communications Solutions

Business Wire, Jan 28, 2002

Business Editors

Lotusphere 2002

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 28, 2002

Added Functionality Allows Lotus Software Customers To Manage

Voice Communications via E-mail

In an effort to provide customers with an advanced method for accessing and managing their business communications, IBM Corporation today announced agreements with Cisco Systems, Inc. and Captaris, Inc. to develop an IBM Lotus Domino version compatible with their unified communications solutions, targeting enterprise and mid-market companies, respectively.

The new offerings aim to enhance end-user productivity by providing a unified interface to voice and e-mail messaging clients, regardless of the client deployment strategy.

IBM continues to gain momentum in the unified messaging market, which according to the Radicati Group, will increase to $8 billion by 2005, up from $453 million in 2001. In addition to the latest agreements with Cisco and Captaris, IBM previously announced an agreement with Avaya Inc., a leading provider of voice and data networks to businesses, to jointly develop unified messaging solutions. IBM's partnerships with such business partners are part of the company's effort to bring advanced messaging capabilities to Lotus software customers.

"Enterprises are accelerating the move to a converged voice and data infrastructure to reduce operational costs and take advantage of new world unified communications capabilities," said Kevin Chestnut, general manager of Cisco's Enterprise Communications Software Business Unit. "One of the first unified communications applications they deploy is unified messaging. Our cooperative efforts around Lotus Domino further enhance our strategic alliance with IBM to bring advanced messaging capabilities to enterprises around the world."

Unified Communications Benefits

The agreements demonstrate IBM's commitment to the development of advanced messaging solutions. Future offerings led by these business partners will enable customers to leverage their existing investment in a Lotus Domino messaging infrastructure, thus helping them reduce their total cost of ownership across their mail and voice communications systems and enhance their ROI on IBM Lotus Notes and Lotus Domino. Unified communications will enable customers to access and manage voice mail, fax and e-mail messages via their desktop, telephone, cell phone, Lotus Notes, IBM Lotus Mobile Notes or iNotes Web Access. As valuable time-management tools for Lotus software customers, reliable and scalable unified messaging solutions will enable end-user access to multiple message types in their Domino mail files. As all voice and e-mail messages can be accessed in a single file and then shared among project members, this management function will also help facilitate improved collaboration among team members. In addition, enhanced notification features will promptly inform users when important messages arrive.

"Building on our relationship with IBM Lotus software, this deal confirms our commitment to deliver communications software that enables the exchange and management of critical business information," said Christopher L. Davis, senior vice president for global marketing at Captaris. "As a result of this agreement, we can more easily build upon the unified communications solutions we provide that seamlessly answer the messaging needs of Domino customers worldwide."

About Cisco Systems, Inc.

Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Cisco news and information are available at http://www.cisco.com.

About Captaris, Inc.

Captaris is a leading provider of unified communications and mobile business solutions that allow companies to improve business communications with customers, partners and employees. The company provides access to and control of critical business information from almost any communications device and enhances communications workflow by improving the way in which company stakeholders exchange information.

About Avaya Inc.

A prototype of Avaya Unified Messenger for Lotus Notes will be on display at Lotusphere in Orlando, Fla., January 28-31, booths 513 and 514. Avaya Inc., headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., is a leading global provider of voice and data networks as well as communications solutions and services that help businesses, government agencies and other institutions, including more than 90 percent of the FORTUNE 500(R), excel in the customer economy. Avaya offers Customer Relationship Management Solutions, Unified Communication Solutions, Hosted Solutions, MultiService Networking Infrastructure and Converged Voice and Data Networks -- including the company's no-compromise Avaya Enterprise-Class IP Solutions (ECLIPS) -- all supported by Avaya Services and Avaya Labs. Avaya is the worldwide leader in unified messaging, messaging systems, call centers and structured cabling systems. It is the U.S. leader in voice communications systems and services. Avaya is an official sponsor for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the FIFA Women's World Cup 2003 and the 2006 FIFA World Cup tournaments. For more information about Avaya, visit its Web site at http://www.avaya.com.