Lotus Advances Global Real-time Collaboration with Sametime 2.0 

  With New Product Features Lotus Provides Instant Communication Experience
   For Any Web-based Collaborative Application and Breaks Language Barriers

    BERLIN, Sept. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- At Lotusphere Europe 2000, IBM's Lotus
Development Corp. today announced the public beta availability of Lotus
Sametime 2.0, the latest version of its real-time collaboration platform.
Sametime 2.0 introduces new multimedia capabilities, including interactive
audio/video conferencing over IP and the ability to broadcast audio/video/data
presentations throughout an entire corporate network and the Internet.  Lotus
also announced the public beta availability of Lotus Translation Services for
Sametime (LTSS), an extension application that allows Sametime users to
conduct multilingual chat sessions.  As a result, users can view incoming
instant messages in their native language regardless of the language used by
the sender.  Sametime 2.0 and LTSS betas are currently available via
http://www.lotus.com/beta .
    Sametime 2.0 provides customers with one of the most complete real-time
business collaboration offerings on the market today, providing users with
powerful, out-of-the-box capabilities that include instant messaging, white
boarding, screen sharing, audio and video conferencing, as well as the option
of working with LTSS for instant multilingual translations.  Using Sametime's
flexible and robust Java Toolkit, developers can create new applications which
change the way organizations make critical decisions, engage in customer
service and build relationships over the Internet, allowing them to work more
efficiently and effectively.  Sametime is an established platform that can be
used as a stand-alone solution or easily integrated into an existing messaging
and collaboration environment.
    "With Sametime 2.0, Lotus builds upon the proven value of the instant
messaging and data conferencing software we have been shipping since 1998.
Sametime 2.0 is one of the most powerful and most valuable conferencing
servers in the market," said Paul Haverstock, general manager of Sametime and
hosted solutions, Lotus Development Corp.  "With this release, you can see and
hear meeting participants, no matter where they are, and share information and
ideas more effectively.  Customers and business partners are expanding the
value and competitive advantage of their Web applications with Sametime."

    New Broadcast Meeting Capability in Sametime Allows Users to Host
      Thousands of Participants
    With Sametime 2.0, Lotus introduces the new broadcast meeting component
that allows thousands of users to participate in a single conference.  No
other offering today provides this level of scalability for multicast,
large-scale conferences.
    Today's e-business organizations understand the revenue and productivity
benefits gained through providing live Internet communication in e-commerce
applications.  Sametime 2.0 offers additional features, including enhanced
proxy and firewall support, as well as a unique component architecture that
are especially geared to meet the demands of those e-businesses.  Other
highlights include LDAP support, a powerful new Java Toolkit and a distributed
server model.

    Improved 'On the Fly' Translation Capabilities Close the Gap Between
      Geographically Dispersed Enterprises
    The Lotus Translation Services for Sametime (LTSS) makes it easier for
enterprises to collaborate internationally.  LTSS connects Sametime to the IBM
Translation Server or other third party Translation Servers available from
Transparent Language, Alis Technologies and Systran.  For example, a user can
send an instant message in English to a Spanish speaker, and the message will
automatically be translated from English to Spanish.  This is an unprecedented
use of instant translation technology that has many implications for
successful, global e-business and improved relationship building.

    Availability
    Lotus Sametime 2.0 and the Lotus Translation Services for Sametime (LTSS)
public betas are available today at http://www.lotus.com/beta .  First
customer ship is expected in the fourth quarter, 2000.  The Sametime 2.0
product family includes the Sametime 2.0 Server, the Connect Client and the
Java Toolkit to support third-party application development.  LTSS is a
separate extension application that requires specific third party translation
engines for implementation.

    About Lotus Development Corp.
    Lotus Development Corporation, founded in 1982, is a subsidiary of IBM
Corporation.  Lotus sets the standard for truly innovative software products
and services that reflect the company's unique understanding of the new ways
in which individuals and businesses must work together to achieve success.
Lotus is redefining the concept of conducting  business through practical
knowledge management, e-business and other ground-breaking ways of connecting
the world's ideas, thinkers, buyers, sellers and communities via the Internet.
Lotus markets its products in more than 80 countries worldwide through direct
and extensive Business Partner channels.  The company also provides numerous
professional consulting, support and education services through the Lotus
Professional Services organization.

    Lotus and Lotus Notes are registered trademarks and Sametime is a
trademark of Lotus Development Corporation.  All other trademarks are owned by
their respective companies.



SOURCE Lotus Development Corporation