IBM Offers Lotus Notes As Hosted Service

IBM is offering its Lotus Notes software as a hosted service to tap new customers in the retail, manufacturing, and insurance sectors.

The company said Lotus Notes Hosted Messaging extends the company’s cloud computing strategy. It offers two service-level options, spam and virus filtering, and back-up and restore services.

Priced at less than $10 per user per month, IBM said it is designed for companies with between 1,000 and 10,000 employees but can also be customized for smaller or larger companies.

Kevin Cavanaugh, vice president of IBM’s messaging and collaboration division, said: “Software delivery models such as cloud computing, software-as-a-service, and hosting are evolving because companies want flexibility. The new hosted Notes is another option IBM is providing to customers. There is high demand for this approach because of the way it is delivered, and its competitive pricing.”

Last month IBM opened four new cloud computing centers in emerging markets of Brazil, South Korea, India, and Vietnam. It also recently signed a contract with Global Hyatt to provide IBM Lotus Notes Domino and Sametime collaboration and unified communications to its 365 hotels worldwide.