IBM and Cisco will deliver a new platform for unified communications and collaboration client development. Based on open technologies such as Eclipse and OSGi, the platform will accelerate application development to enable developers to include communications and collaboration capabilities in solutions.
The companies announced plans to deliver specific customer offerings to include a joint solution based on a new client platform and a set of "plugins" bring together communications and collaboration capabilities of both companies.
IBM and Nortel have also allied to help telecom carriers drive network convergence. It will give subscribers a voice, data and video communications experience across a wide range of devices and accessed from any network-wireline, wireless or DSL/cable broadband.
This includes fostering an expanded ecosystem for third parties develop and test new converged applications, joint centres, and Nortel integrating with IBM's WebSphere software. In addition, the agreement facilitates the inclusion of Nortel Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) applications in IBM carrier solutions, the companies said in a joint statement.
This new agreement builds on an existing relationship that led to successful IP Multimedia Subsystems (IMS) carrier customer trials across the globe.
As part of the new agreement IBM and Nortel will use each of their current IMS developer and interoperability testing programs to accelerate and enable telecom application providers and carriers bring new multimedia services to market, such as-presence capabilities, IP security/surveillance, child tracking.
This includes creating an ecosystem for third parties to develop and test new converged applications, joint centres, and also Nortel integrating with IBM's WebSphere software. In addition, the agreement will facilitate inclusion of Nortel Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) applications in IBM carrier solutions, the companies added in a joint statement.
IBM and Cisco added that the core of the unified communications and collaboration (UC2) Client Platform will be an open set of application programming interfaces (APIs) to be offered by IBM as a subset of Lotus Sametime collaboration capabilities.
The collaboration capabilities are built on IBM's Lotus Expeditor, contain open technologies from OSGi and Eclipse. This would allow customers and partners to build new classes of applications and services managed run across desktops, laptops, web browsers, and mobile devices.
Cisco and IBM will adopt the UC2 Client Platform develop their own unified communications and collaboration clients. Lotus Sametime 7.5 is based on this platform and IBM plans that future releases will take advantage of the platform. Cisco will develop future versions of its Cisco Unified Personal Communicator client.
Also, the two companies will work together to promote benefits of open technologies for development and will drive market adoption of the UC2 Client Platform.These activities are expected to include training, enablement and certification programs.
The UC2 Client Platform is expected to be available second half of 2007. In addition, Integrated Communications Services, from IBM Global Technology Services, is expected to offer assessment, design and implementation services for the full Cisco Unified Communications and Lotus Sametime portfolio.
Lotus Sametime users will be able to send instant messages to and from Cisco Unified IP Phones, view and play Cisco Unity voice messages, and click-to-call another user directly from their Lotus Sametime 7.5.1 client.
