Where does Mail.Next come from
Mat Newman November 17 2014 09:00:00
In the past few weeks I've been asked a lot of questions as we approach the signature event launch of IBM Mail Next this week on November 18th.If you haven't registered yet for the event on the 18th, do yourself a favour, the link is HERE (http://www.ibm.com/social-business/us/en/newway/event.html)
The key to understanding IBM Mail Next is very simple; Mail.Next is NOT a new mail client, Mail.Next is a new way of working!
So where does IBM Mail Next come from?
I've put together the following infographic that I've been using in discussions with customers to enable them to understand the history behind this vision.
Figure 1: IBM Messaging & Collaboration Evolution
The timeline at the bottom of the graphic is explained here:
| Note: | Timeline: |
| 1 | 1989 Lotus Development Corporation release the first version of the Lotus Notes Client and the Lotus Notes Server on the 27th of November |
| 2 | 1996 To recognise the expanding capabilities of the Lotus Notes Server with it's ability to host applications accessed by a growing number of clients and protocols, Lotus rename the server component "Lotus Domino". |
| 3 | 1998 The convergence between Messaging, Chat and Presence begins with the introduction of Lotus Sametime |
| 4 | 2002 The first version of Notes/Domino and Sametime to officially carry the IBM brand "IBM Lotus Notes", "IBM Lotus Domino" and "IBM Lotus Sametime" |
| 5 | 2003 Introduction of the Domino based iNotes browser client, a new way to access Domino hosted mail through a Browser |
| 6 | 2007 IBM launches Lotus Connections, an enterprise social platform that would begin to dramatically transform interaction and communication within the enterprise. |
| 7 | 2008 The launch of IBM's hosted cloud service for Messaging and Collaboration - LotusLive |
| 8 | 2009 IBM acquires 'Outblaze' a web based SAAS offering providing mail, calendar and contacts |
| 9 | 2010 Outblaze is incorporated into LotusLive and offered as "LotusLive iNotes" as an entry level cloud based messaging system which should not to be confused with Domino based iNotes, which on IBM's cloud is called "Notes Web Access" |
| 10 | 2011 IBM announces the re-branding of LotusLive to IBM Smartcloud |
| 11 | 2011 Rebranding of Lotus Connections to IBM Connections |
| 12 | 2013 IBM begins removing individual 'brand' names from all of it's offerings, releasing IBM Notes, IBM iNotes and IBM Domino, version 9: "Social Edition" signifying the closer integration of IBM's Messaging & Collaboration and Social Business platforms. |
| 13 | 2014 IBM's entry level SAAS mail offering (originally Outblaze) is renamed under the IBM Connections Cloud portfolio |
| 14 | 2014 IBM Smartcloud rebranded as IBM Connections Cloud |
| 15 | 2015 The convergence of Messaging & Collaboration and Enterprise Social platforms, backed by powerful Analytics capabilities, and tightly integrated Search, IBM's Mail.Next interface is released for General Availability. |
What this history demonstrates is an evolution of capabilities, beginning with the software that revolutionised the messaging and collaboration space in Notes/Domino, the inclusion of realtime voice/video/meeting capabilities with Sametime, the extension of those features to the browser with (Domino based) iNotes, the introduction of a new more productive method of sharing information through an enterprise social platform in Connections, the importance of locating and analysing all of that collective intelligence and finally, bringing all of those capabilities together with a #NewWayToWork which is the vision for IBM Mail.Next.
It's an exciting time within IBM as we realise and implement one of our core values: Innovation that matters - for our company and for the world.
And of course, these capabilities are all built on your existing foundation of IBM's legendary Notes/Domino portfolio, which has meant an upgrade and an enhancement of capabilities, and no data migration, not once, not in 25 years! Investment protection is one of the hallmarks of the platform.
I look forward to discussing these developments with you as they unfold.
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