Lotus Expands Wireless in Sprint Deal

Computerworld - In an effort to move beyond the "one-trick pony" image of messaging services, Lotus Development is partnering with Sprint PCS to offer wireless applications through Sprint's new Wireless Web for Business service.
Lotus also plans to announce new portal offerings with an emphasis on knowledge management at its conference, Lotusphere, in Berlin next month.
This week's announcement of wireless access to Notes through Sprint PCS is expanding on Lotus' forte, said Amy Reuss Caton, senior brand marketing manager at Notes. The service provides Notes users with access to e-mail, calendar and corporate directories.
But Lotus also hopes to link other applications to the wireless service so that more information can be accessed through the database.
However, Patrick Bodin, manager of research and development at Allied Automotive Group Inc. in Decatur, Ga., said he isn't waiting around for Lotus to create access to applications.
"I can do all my own database stuff," he said. Allied has used Mobile Notes for about six months with wireless technology from Veriprise Wireless Corp. in Alpharetta, Ga.
The collaboration with Sprint doesn't mean it is an exclusive deal. The same Mobile Notes and Mobile Services for Domino technology also works with AT&T Corp. wireless services and could work with New York-based Verizon Communications cellular phones. Lotus, however, doesn't have any type of cooperative agreement with Verizon, so the user would have to set up the services independently.
- Jennifer DiSabatino

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