In the wake of delays that caused grumbling among customers, Lotus yesterday released the first public beta of Notes 5.0 and Domino 5.0.
The beta code, which also includes Domino Designer 5.0, is available for download from Lotus' Web site at http://www.lotus.com/r5preview. Company officials reiterated Lotus' intention to ship the products by the end of the year. They earlier had voiced concerns about meeting that timetable because of the delays and Lotus' traditional reliance on a six-month beta period.
The Notes 5.0 client features a new browserlike look and feel, while Domino 5.0 has received an infusion of Internet capabilities and standards support. The products also will provide new native access to enterprise data, transactional systems and enterprise resource planning applications.
Industry experts consider these upcoming releases of Notes and Domino to be of critical importance to Lotus as the company continues to fend off a major challenge from Microsoft and its Exchange Server for supremacy in the enterprise messaging and groupware market.
RELATED LINKS
Falling Domino
Network World, 8/28/98
Exchanging Notes?
Lotus, Microsoft tussle over messaging supremacy. Network World Fusion, 8/26/98.
Notes and Domino 5.0 to complete Lotus 'Net makeover
What's in the new version. Network World Fusion, 6/12/98.
Interview with Jeff Papows
In which he says R5 will ship mid-year, among other things. Network World, 1/23/98.
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