Focus On: Groupware

It's Groupware Armageddon as IBM unveils a rebate program designed to prevent Microsoft Exchange with Outlook from steamrolling IBM's Domino 7 with Lotus Notes. IBM's rebating properly-certified dealers, while Microsoft's discounting to anybody who shows up with cash. IBM's spending hundreds of millions to get the word out, while Redmond's dropping a half-billion. Beyond that, Email Battles says, conclusions get pretty easy.

Having barely escaped the patent wars, you can hardly blame BlackBerry's creators for wanting to take a breather. Unfortunately (for them), it's not going to happen. While they were focused on the battles at the front, Microsoft has been busy preparing the field for the next assault on RIM's Fortress of Profits. And its latest edition of the Mobile Messaging Guide for Exchange makes it clear. Redmond intends to take no prisoners.

A market research firm, Radicati Group, is running an online survey, "2006 Messaging and Collaboration Survey", ostensibly designed to give paying customers preternatural insight into the mysteries of messaging. But the combination of its online nature and questions that ask if you intend to "stick with Domino as long as possible" suggest that the result will look more like a hit piece than a statistically valid survey.

IBM has opened a new front in the Desktop Wars with its coming release of Lotus Notes for Linux and Apple Mac OS X. The mature collaboration software instantly adds gravitas and business-user appeal to both operating systems, while providing IBM with the ability to offer a complete environment without a stitch of Microsoft. Assuming the IBM effort succeeds, Email Battles wonders how long it take for Redmond to follow.

When a Microsoft-annointed MVP of the Month and noted security author starts questioning the company's trustworthiness, Redmond ought to listen. Recent hype has finally pushed its Diva to the wall. Susan Bradley's mad as heck and is sharing it with the world... and hopefully, Microsoft.