Lotus last week began shipping new Java-based collaboration software, Sametime 1.0, that lets users monitor the online status of colleagues, swap instant messages and share applications in real time. The product includes a Sametime Server, Sametime Connect Client, application development tools and a series of Sametime-enabled templates that work with Lotus Notes 4.6 and 5.0.
Lotus is touting the synchronous collaboration capabilities of Sametime as a natural extension of the asynchronous capabilities found in its flagship Notes and Domino product line.
Sametime Server runs on Microsoft's Windows NT and can be accessed using Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher, Netscape Navigator 4.06, Notes 4.6.2 or higher, and T.120-based conferencing clients like Microsoft NetMeeting. The server costs $US5,000 with a $20 per user client access license.